Balázs Tóth to Celtic almost done, as Blackburn keeper deal could be completed this week

It looks like Celtic may have their goalkeeping problem solved before this week is out.

For a while now it’s been clear that we’ve been in need of a goalkeeper to challenge Viljami Sinisalo for the no. 1 spot.

Well, it’s looking more and more likely that 7 times capped Hungarian keeper, Balázs Tóth, could be on his way to Celtic pretty soon.

In fact it’s believed a deal could be concluded before the week is out.

Hungarian title, Nemetzi Sport states that ‘negotiations are in the final stretch’.

Amidst interest from Udinese and Hamburg, it looks as if Celtic is Tóth’s preferred destination.

With the guarantee of European football being the obvious draw to Glasgow.

Here is what the report in Nemetzi Sport had to say:

According to our Scottish sources, Celtic would like to sign a goalkeeper with international experience alongside Finnish international Viljami Sinisalo. The 56-time champion and current title holder Scottish club is confident that they will manage to fight their way into the Champions League main draw against Austrian LASK in the play-offs of the CL qualifying round, and then the duties could be divided between the two international goalkeepers. Celtic’s number one choice for the goalkeeper position is seven-time Hungarian international 
Balázs Tóth.

I must admit, I’m glad Celtic is confident of fighting their way past LASK.

There are plenty of us out there who aren’t so confident, especially considering how weak our midfield is going into this one.

But I’ll park that for now and we’ll see how things go tonight.

Blackburn manager and former Celtic Coach, Tony Mowbray seems resigned to the fact he’s going to lose Tóth.

Here’s what he had to say on the move:

If the goalkeeper wants to go somewhere else, wants to win cups and trophies and wants to play in the Champions League, who am I to tell him not to? Good luck to him.

Well, I guess he’s certainly not going to win trophies at his current club, with Blackburn very much established as a mid to lower table side in the EFL Championship.

So you could see why a move to Celtic would appeal to the Hungarian goalkeeper.

It’s looking like Tóth will cost Celtic around £4 million, which matches what they were willing to pay for Dinko Horkas.

So clearly, the club has found someone within their budget.

According to Nemetzi Sport, there could be a snag though:

According to English sources, the purchase price could be around four million pounds, but negotiations are still ongoing, and it is a question of whether the Champions League qualifier against LASK could affect the deal, the first match being held in Scotland on Tuesday. According to the latest Scottish news, concrete negotiations between the two clubs began last week, but could even be concluded this week.

Personally, I doubt Tóth would quibble about playing in the Champions League or the Europa League.

He certainly wouldn’t get to play at that level with Blackburn Rovers.

It’s looking like this one could be the real deal, and could be concluded by the end of the week.

This has been a position we knew we needed cover for after Kaspar Schmeichel’s retirement.

So it all makes sense.

Let’s hope tonight’s result goes our way so that we can land Gvidas Gineitis for our midfield as well.

The move for Tóth might not be one to be getting overly excited about, but it’s a problem position dealt with.

Smart business?

I guess we’ll know for sure by the end of the week, won’t we?

Watch this space…

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