Celtic are after Las Palmas goalkeeper Dinko Horkas, and there is every reason to believe he’d be an asset for Martin O’Neill.
Replacing Kasper Schmeichel was never going to be easy, but Horkas has quietly built an impressive reputation in Spain.
At 27, he combines experience with years still ahead of him, and his commanding style looks far better suited to O’Neill’s demands than gambling on another inexperienced option.
It is easy to understand why the Croatian has climbed so high on the shortlist.
Last season, Horkas established himself as one of the Segunda División’s standout goalkeepers, recording 14 clean sheets in 41 league appearances while helping Las Palmas challenge for promotion.
Beyond the statistics, he impressed with his command of the penalty area, calm distribution and ability to organise the defence in front of him.
Those qualities have inevitably attracted attention from clubs across Europe, including the Scottish champions.
Celtic in pole position to sign Dinko Horkas ahead of Hull City
According to reports from La Provincia, relayed by Sport Witness, Celtic have emerged as the “biggest contender” to sign Horkas from Las Palmas.
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Football FanCast’s Verdict |
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Credibility |
La Provincia is the leading newspaper covering Las Palmas and is well-connected to developments surrounding the Spanish club. Sport Witness has accurately translated and contextualised the report for an English audience. While local reporting should always be treated carefully during transfer windows, this story aligns with wider interest previously reported in Horkas. |
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Finances |
Celtic’s reported offer of around £6 million sits below Las Palmas’ desired valuation, with the Spanish club understood to want a figure closer to £9 million. The goalkeeper remains under contract until 2028, giving Las Palmas a strong negotiating position despite growing interest from Celtic and Hull. |
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Insight |
Horkas has developed into a dependable modern goalkeeper. Rather than relying purely on spectacular saves, he builds his game around consistency and communication. His experience across Croatia, Bulgaria and Spain has helped produce a calm presence capable of handling pressure. |
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Impact |
If Celtic complete the signing, Horkas would immediately compete to become O’Neill’s first-choice goalkeeper. His experience and reliability could provide much-needed stability following Schmeichel’s retirement, while his ability with the ball at his feet would suit Celtic’s possession-based style in both domestic and European competition. |
The Bhoys are said to have lodged one of the strongest offers for the goalkeeper, with reports, as relayed by La Provincia themselves, suggesting a bid worth around £6 million has been made.
Newly-promoted Premier League side Hull City are interested as well, but the Spanish newspaper sense Celtic are currently leading the race as the player waits for his future to be resolved.
The timing makes perfect sense.
Celtic have spent much of the summer searching for a long-term solution between the posts following Schmeichel’s retirement.
They explored moves for Hertha Berlin’s Tjark Ernst before the German completed a transfer elsewhere, leaving Horkas among the leading candidates to take over as Rodgers’ new number one.
Hull’s interest means Celtic cannot afford to become complacent, but negotiating with the Spanish club may prove the hardest part.
That leaves Celtic with an important decision over how far they are prepared to stretch financially.
