標籤: vital

celtic Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has been the No. 1 since arriving at Celtic Park on a free transfer in 2024. Martin O’Neill has not been able to rely on the 39-year-old for more than a month due to injury.

The Dane’s contract at Celtic expires in June and his future remains uncertain at the club.

The main reason is that Schmeichel is injured and needs another surgery on a shoulder problem.

The stopper has hinted he could be out for up to 10 months, forcing Celtic to make changes.

O’Neill has used Viljami Sinisalo in Schmeichel’s absence while Celtic will have to look for a new stopper in the summer.

Celtic is focusing on the Australian

The Scottish Premiership club are already considering a few options, including Levante UD goalkeeper Matthew Ryan.

is according to football 24Joe covers Celtic’s interest in reports focusing mainly on Club Brugge.

Simon Mignolet has been the number 1 for the Jupiler Pro League team for years and will retire at the end of this season. This has seen Club Brugge looking for an adequate replacement.

Last weekend, sports witness Claims Covered by Belgaum Matze sells of Nottingham Forest as a top target, but this operation is not financially feasible for Club Brugge.

There are other targets too and Ryan’s name is prominent. The 34-year-old joined the La Liga team on a free transfer in August 2025 and has been their No. 1 this season.

His league statistics this season are as follows:

• Appearances: 28
• Start: 28
• Accepted target: 45
• Clean sheets: 5
• Saves per game: 3.7

The Australia international has previously toured in England with Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal.

Club Brugge’s final choice will be made based on the stopper’s ‘availability, cost and playing vision’. Ryan’s experience would make him a potential choice to replace Mignolet.

However, the Belgian club will have to worry about ‘competition from Celtic’ as Martin O’Neill’s side are also keen. The next few months will be crucial in the battle for the Australian signature.

Contract, price and agent information

Matthew Ryan has less than three months left on his contract at Levante UD, who retain the option to extend it for a further year.

its value, according to transfer market€2m, and the highest was €10m in June 2019. British agency CAA is representing the stellar goalkeeper.

Arsenal are seeing the best of Piero Hincapie at the right time, and the defender himself is acutely aware of this as the 2026 World Cup approaches.

The Ecuador international has become a key option for Mikel Arteta since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in September 2025.

Hincapie is no longer being talked about as a player who has adapted to English football. He is now part of an Arsenal team that is still fighting on many fronts, and his versatility has helped. He has been used as both a centre-back and on the left, providing Arteta with tactical flexibility.

In recent weeks, he has produced strong performances, including a standout performance against his former club Bayer Leverkusen. He also scored his first Premier League goal in a 2–2 draw against Wolves last month.

So when he talks about confidence, adaptation and responsibility, it fits into the wider picture at Arsenal.

Emotional return and Arteta’s demand

in an interview with dsportsHincapie considered moving to Bayer Leverkusen after leaving the German side for Arsenal. The defender admitted it was an emotional experience.

“Going back to where I was happy is very emotional, and also sad because I had to face the club where I won everything. They opened the doors for me, so there were a lot of mixed emotions.”

Arsenal signed a player with elite levels of experience despite his age, and Leverkusen clearly remains a major part of his story. Nevertheless, their focus is now on retaining their place in North London and ahead of the World Cup.

He also offered a revealing line on life under Arteta.

“With Mikel, he has a very strong character. He likes intense training sessions. You have to be at the maximum level because of the demands of the league. I have adapted very well to what he asks of me in every moment of the game. I’m very happy to have him.”

This seems absolutely true. The physical and tactical demands under Arteta are well known, and Hincapie’s comments suggest he has adapted to them rather than survived them.

Heinz’s influence and larger role

Another notable part of the interview was Hincapie’s praise for Gabriel Heinze, who joined Arsenal’s coaching staff in 2025.

“Heinz helps us a lot on the defensive side as well. He gives advice to everyone. He’s a great reference point for us too, having him in training.”

It should attract attention. Heinze arrived with a reputation for intensity and defensive aggressiveness, and Hincapie is one of the players to benefit from that influence.

He is already comfortable defending wide spaces, stepping into duels and covering on the left. The additional work on the defensive side could make him even more important to Arsenal next season.

However, for now, timing is the point. Arsenal have a defender in form, the player looks settled, and Ecuador will be pleased to hear that.

Hincapie is speaking like someone who knows this extension of the season could define both his club year and his World Cup summer.