---
title: "Celtic: McManus drops Hoops Marciano claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-mcmanus-drops-hoops-marciano-claim/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-05-08T17:40:30Z"
modified: "2021-05-08T17:40:30Z"
---

# Celtic: McManus drops Hoops Marciano claim

**Former Hibernian man and now pundit Tam McManus has admitted he’d [‘be very surprised’](https://twitter.com/The_Tman10/status/1390660463059513351) if Celtic didn’t try to bring goalkeeper Ofir Marciano to Parkhead this summer.**

### The Lowdown: Celtic’s interest

Celtic have been [linked](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/ofir-marciano-breaks-silence-on-hibs-future-as-he-hints-at-summer-exit-amid-premier-league-claim-3157674) with the 31-year-old in recent months. [Reports](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/ofir-marciano-breaks-silence-on-hibs-future-as-he-hints-at-summer-exit-amid-premier-league-claim-3157674) back in March suggested that the Hoops were monitoring the Israel international following their goalkeeping woes this season.

The Hoops have used summer signing [Vasilis Barkas](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/vasilis-barkas/leistungsdaten/spieler/248658), [Scott Bain](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/scott-bain/leistungsdaten/spieler/85627) and youngster [Conor Hazard](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/conor-hazard/leistungsdaten/spieler/322770/plus/0?saison=2020) during the current campaign, with none of the three exactly establishing themselves as first-choice at Parkhead.

Marciano, who has been with [Hibs since 2017](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ofir-marciano/profil/spieler/112008), is [out of contract in a matter of months](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ofir-marciano/profil/spieler/112008) and it looks as if the shot-stopper is a man in demand ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

[Celtic updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-2/)

### The Latest: Marciano ‘has offers in Scotland’

[Edinburgh Evening News](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/ofir-marciano-has-offers-in-scotland-as-hibs-goalkeeper-mulls-over-future-3228055) were informed from a source close to the player that the goalkeeper ‘has offers in Scotland’, with Marciano already reportedly rejecting a return to his native country with Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

McManus gave his thoughts to the news on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/The_Tman10/status/1390660463059513351), saying:

> “I’d be very surprised if Celtic didn’t try and get Marciano on a free. Can count on one hand the mistakes he has made at Hibs in 4-5 years. He is a better goalkeeper than any currently at Celtic IMO.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”355506″\]

### The Verdict: One must go

Should Celtic firm up their recent interest in Marciano with a view to signing him on a free transfer, we feel as if one of Barkas, Bain or Hazard would need to make way.

Having four senior shot-stoppers to pick from could be too much for the new Hoops manager. Barkas only signed last year in a deal worth [£4.5m](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53559787) and [Hazard recently signed a new Celtic deal](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11787/12234736/conor-hazard-celtic-goalkeeper-signs-new-contract-running-until-2023).

On that basis, should the Hoops want to stick with the big-money signing and young prospect, perhaps Bain could be the man to leave.

Celtic may not even be on the search for a new goalkeeper, but McManus would be very surprised if they didn’t make their move for Marciano, so it could be a move worth keeping an eye on.

***In other news: ‘We hear’ – 62 y/o drops unconfirmed ‘done deal’ claim at Celtic, find out more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-mcleish-drops-howe-done-deal-claim/).***