David de Gea to Celtic transfer could 'excite' Spaniard as Parkhead hero makes sales pitch

Peter Grant has urged Celtic to look at trying to sign David de Gea.

The Spanish stopper has been out of the game for a year after leaving Manchester United and didn't sign for anyone ahead of or during the 2023/24 campaign. He's been trying to stay sharp by training with an English non-league side, but hasn't retired and is looking for a new club this summer.

Brendan Rodgers is hunting for a new no 1 after Joe Hart retired. Scott Bain is very much second choice and Benjamin Siegrist can't get a look in, so whoever comes in is arriving as the main man between the sticks. And while Grant accepts that there will be more money on offer for De Gea elsewhere - and that's even if Celtic offer a bumper wage - he reckons the prospect of Champions League football and winning trophies might just persuade the Spain international that a switch to Scotland could be exciting.

He told GO Radio: "I've got to throw one out there. I look at David de Gea, he's been training non-league in England. And I'm thinking 'there's someone like David de Gea there, a club like Celtic, European football. Would that excite him?'

"Okay, it will cost you a few shillings. But if he's not going to the likes of Saudi Arabia, because no doubt that's where he'd get the most money. But if he's taken a year out and all of a sudden wants to get back - big nights at Celtic Park, eight Champions League matches. Would that be something that excites him?

"But that's somebody I'd be looking at. That's the sort of personality you're probably going to have to replace Joe Hart with."