Young Celtic goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi, who is yet to be seen in the first-team, could replace Joe Hart when the latter’s contract expires in 2024, Kieran Devlin reports.
The Lowdown: Oluwayemi’s matchday inclusions
The Hoops had four senior goalkeepers on the books alongside Oluwayemi at the beginning of the campaign after Ange Postecoglou brought in Hart from Tottenham.
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Conor Hazard then left to join Finnish side HJK Helsinki on a year-long loan deal last month, but Scott Bain penned new Parkhead terms and Vasilis Barkas was only linked with an exit.
Despite all of Postecoglou’s options, he has still included Oluwayemi in the matchday squad on three occasions this season. The 18-year-old, who joined from Tottenham back in 2019, is yet to make a senior appearance for the Hoops, but the club clearly have high hopes for the Englishman.
The Latest: Postecoglou a fan
Devlin shared a story on The Athletic, looking at fellow teenage Ben Doak and the club’s ‘rethinking’ approach to youngsters.
Within his report, he claimed that Postecoglou rates Oluwayemi’s distribution and composure on the ball, with the club expecting a route to becoming first choice when Hart’s contract expires in 2024.
The Verdict: Interesting
As Devlin goes on to add, the target for Oluwayemi next season will be to solidify a place in Postecoglou’s matchday squad ahead of Bain, which could be a challenge after the Scot extended his stay.
However, time is on Oluwayemi’s side, and should he continue to impress in Glasgow, a pathway into the first team over the next two-and-a-half years appears a real possibility.
He will be 21 when Hart’s current deal with the Hoops comes to an end, whereas Bain will be 32. That could be the perfect time for Oluwayemi to step up and take the gloves, providing he develops at Lennoxtown during that time.
In other news: Bad news emerges for Celtic ace with ‘real drive’ as journalist relays major Parkhead update.