Celtic FC Opinion: Hoops should sign Freddie Woodman on loan
According to Chronicle Live, Celtic are interested in signing England U21 goalkeeper Freddie Woodman from Newcastle United, with the report claiming that the highly-rated shot-stopper is keen to go out on loan in order to get more regular minutes under his belt.
Woodman, who is currently in the last year of his contract at Tyneside, didn’t make a solitary appearance for Newcastle the last term after his request for a loan move was turned down bt the club. (h/t Chronicle Live)
However, the 22-year-old is weighing up his options this summer and has made it clear that he wants his way out of the club, with the Magpies looking certainly to lose his services for absolutely nothing next summer.
Celtic, though, are not the only club to have been credited with an interest in Woodman, with the Chronicle Live reporting that Arsenal are also keen to bring the talented shot-stopper to the North London this summer.
Woodman has long been acclaimed as one of the best emerging goalkeeping talents in the country, although he hasn’t been given a fair crack of the whip at Newcastle to prove his mettle in the Premier League.
A youth product of Newcastle, the shot-stopper made his debut in a 3-1 victory over Luton Town in the FA Cup in the 2017-18 season, and that, till date, continues to be his only appearance at the senior level for his boyhood club.
Woodman has spent time on loan at Hartlepool United and Crawley Town in League Two, as well as with Kilmarnock and Aberdeen north of the border in the Scottish Premiership, earning positive reviews for his performances in Scotland.
A key component of the England U20 side that won the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Woodman bagged the Golden Glove Award in that tournament and was also a part of the U21 squad that emerged triumphant at the 2018 Toulon Tournament in France.
Celtic, meanwhile, have already bagged quite a few scalps this summer, with the Hoops completing deals for defenders Hatem Abd Elhamed, Christopher Jullien and Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo, whilst Bolton Wanderers prodigy Luca Connell has also made the move north of the border to Parkhead.
As well as a new right-back to compete with Elhamed, Hoops boss Neil Lennon is also likely to have a few attacking reinforcements on his shortlist.
A goalkeeper is not likely to be a priority for the manager this summer but the prospect of bringing in somebody like Freddie Woodman, who is regarded as one of the best rising talents in English football, might prompt the reigning Scottish champions to think otherwise.
To put things into perspective, Woodman has already enjoyed fruitful loan spells north of the border at Kilmarnock and Aberdeen and Celtic have every reason to look at him as someone who could possibly increase competition for places between the sticks.
Veteran shot-stopper Craig Gordon and Scott Bain shared the No.1 duties at Parkhead the last term but Woodman apparently has the talent to take the Scottish top-flight by storm and establish himself as a regular at the club.
Also, given that the 22-year-old is out of contract at Newcastle next summer, Celtic might as well try to nab him on a free transfer later on in the season after initially signing him on loan this summer.
Conclusion
Freddie Woodman is a shot-stopper with potential and it is not difficult to see that Celtic would bag a massive coup if they manage to win the race for his signature this summer.
As for Woodman, he probably knows for sure that he is going to get his much-awaited move away from Tyneside next summer. At 22, it is high time for him to secure a move elsewhere where he would at least get a chance to showcase his talent.
Staying put at Newcastle isn’t going to work wonders for his development and the prospect of a loan move north of the border, coupled with the lure of European football, should prompt Woodman to choose Celtic.
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Gordon is very much at the twilight of his career at 36 and it is clear that the Croydon-born goalkeeper has the skill set to challenge for a substantial role at Parkhead next term.