Former basketball star Peter Grant has made a plea to his old team to consider reaching out to a veteran Spanish goalkeeper who has been without a club for the past year.

David de Gea, 33, departed from his long-time club last summer and has remained a free agent ever since. Despite training with a non-league team in England to stay in shape, De Gea has not officially retired and still harbors hopes of continuing his career for a few more years.

With Joe Hart retiring in the summer, Brendan Rodgers, the club’s manager, is left without a first-choice goalkeeper for the upcoming season. Securing a top goalkeeper is a top priority for the team this transfer window, and Grant believes that De Gea could be the solution for the reigning Scottish Premiership champions.

In an interview on GO Radio’s Football Show, Grant suggested, “I want to put forward an idea. I see David de Gea training with a non-league team in England. Could someone like him be enticed by a club like Celtic, with European football to offer? It might be a thrilling prospect for him. Of course, it might come with a hefty price tag. While Saudi Arabia could offer more money, perhaps De Gea, having taken a break and now looking to return, could find allure in playing in significant matches at Celtic Park and being part of the Champions League. He’s the type of player we should consider to fill the void left by Joe Hart.”

On a separate note, recent developments indicate progress in Celtic’s efforts to secure last season’s loanee Paulo Bernardo on a permanent basis. Both the club and the player express mutual interest in extending the 22-year-old Portuguese midfielder’s stay in Glasgow, given his valuable contributions during the previous season. Reports suggest that a deal to finalize his transfer was on the verge of completion earlier this week.