Celtic have set their sights on a summer move for experienced Hoops stopper Asmir Begovic
Celtic are set to target QPR’s Asmir Begovic this summer in the upcoming transfer window.
Begovic left Everton for the West London team in the summer of last year, and since then, he has established himself as an important member of the Hoops’ starting lineup.
Under Marti Cifuentes, the seasoned goalkeeper has started each and every game of his team’s Championship campaign, and he has been instrumental in helping them stay in the level.
The Bosnian’s deal, though, is scheduled to expire at the end of the current campaign, so if an extension is not reached, he will become a free agent.
| Asmir Begovic – QPR league goals conceded and appearances (per Fbref.com) | ||||
| Season | Appearances | Goals Conceded (Clean Sheets) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 45 | 57 (13) | ||
Celtic’s Asmir Begovic transfer interest
Joe Hart is scheduled to retire at the end of the current campaign, so Celtic are looking for a replacement.
The former England international, whose career will finish in the next month, will need to be replaced at number one by a fresh player for the Scottish powerhouses.
Although it’s thought that Begovic is willing to continue at Loftus Road, an extension of his contract with the Championship team has not yet been agreed upon.
The club’s promotion to the second division for another season was assured with a 4-0 victory over Leeds United on Friday night, potentially starting the process of contract negotiations.
Discussions about terms with players who are not under contract may have been delayed due to their league status uncertainty, therefore this outcome could now happen more quickly.
Begovic will find Celtic to be a compelling choice as well, as it will provide him with the chance to play in the Champions League and contend for significant domestic titles.
But it remains to be seen whether QPR or Celtic could offer the more lucrative financial package, which will also likely play a role in determining his future.
QPR’s Championship relegation battle is now over
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The Spanish coach arrived in October to replace Gareth Ainsworth in the Loftus Road dugout, with the R’s sitting in the bottom three.
However, he has transformed their fortunes this year, with his side now sitting 17th in the Championship table.
Cifuentes issued a public defence of the criticism Begovic has received from supporters in recent weeks following the 4-0 win on Friday.
This indicates that the 41-year-old may want to keep the goalkeeper at the club beyond this season.
Asmir Begovic may be worth keeping around for QPR
If QPR can find an agreement with Begovic for at least another year then they should really consider keeping him on board.
The shot-stopper has made some mistakes, but he has otherwise been quite solid between the sticks and he brings a wealth of experience to the squad.
Replacing him is also an expense that QPR could do without, as strengthening other areas of the squad would be a better use of resources.
Now that survival has been secured the club can plan ahead for the summer, and one of their first priorities should be to look to find a new deal with Begovic to stave off this Celtic interest.
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