Celtic have got to join Leeds and Southampton in the race for £8.5m bargain – TBR View

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Celtic are set for a summer revamp after failing their pursuit of 10 in a row and while many are expected to leave the club, the Hoops need to bring in numerous players in crucial positions – especially between the sticks.

Having lost Fraser Forster, who left Celtic after his second spell at the club to rejoin Southampton, the Hoops decided to spend the best part of £5million on Greece international Vasilis Barkas. He had impressed at AEK Athens.

But Barkas has struggled at Celtic – with Neil Lennon giving Conor Hazard and Scott Bain chances throughout the campaign. If the club are not to trust Barkas going forward, then they need to bring in a new signing in goal.

A new Spanish report might just catch their attention. ElGolDigital claim Leeds and Southampton are both interested in raiding La Liga side Alaves for 28-year-old goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco – and can get him for a bargain £8.5million this summer.

Pacheco is considered one of the best goalkeepers in Spanish football. Captaining Alaves for much of the campaign, he has now clocked up 207 appearances for the Spanish tier – keeping 67 clean sheets since his move from Real Madrid in 2015.

A move to Leeds or Southampton would be perfect timing for Pacheco at this point in his career – but would he start? At Leeds, they boast Illan Meslier, who is showing the kind of potential required to become one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.

Southampton have Forster and Alex McCarthy in goal, and adding Pacheco to that list does not add to that quality – just provides another option. It means Pacheco might struggle to start regularly at either Premier League club, should he move to England.

But a move to Celtic would see Pacheco play in Europe, easily be the club’s number one – and further his career in Scotland. At £8.5million, it would be a move that suits all parties involved and finally end Celtic’s woes in the goalkeeping department.