Celtic’s hunt for a new No 1: Horkas emerges as Schmeichel’s heir

Celtic are weighing up a move for Dinko Horkas as they prepare for life after Kasper Schmeichel. The 27-year-old Las Palmas goalkeeper has been identified as a prime candidate to step into the Parkhead No 1 jersey next summer.

Reports from Spain indicate that the Hoops are among several clubs tracking the Croatian shot-stopper. Olympiacos and Sevilla have also been linked with Horkas, who has established himself as a consistent performer in La Liga.

Horkas progressed through Segesta and Dinamo Zagreb’s youth systems in Croatia before breaking into senior football. He spent time on loan at Zrinjski Mostar in Bosnia, then returned to Croatia with Varaždin, and later joined Posušje in the first half of the 2021-22 season.

His first senior club move came with Lokomotiv Plovdiv in Bulgaria ahead of the 2022-23 campaign. After two seasons in the Bulgarian top flight, Horkas secured a move to Las Palmas in Spain’s top division.

Since April 2025, Horkas has been Las Palmas’ first-choice goalkeeper. He made 43 appearances last season in the Segunda División, helping the club narrowly miss out on promotion. His performances have drawn attention from abroad, including from Celtic’s scouting network.

The Hoops are reshaping their squad following Schmeichel’s retirement. They have previously favoured experienced options but are now targeting younger alternatives for long-term stability. Nikolas Polster, Aleksander Bobek and Tjark Ernst are among those under consideration.

Celtic currently have Viljami Sinisalo and Ross Doohan as their other goalkeeping options. Sinisalo stepped in during Schmeichel’s absence and helped the club win the domestic double. Doohan has not featured since returning to the club last summer.

Horkas is under contract at Las Palmas until the summer of 2028. The Spanish club would reportedly demand a fee in the region of £6 million for the Croatian international. Celtic’s valuation of the situation suggests they see him as a viable successor to Schmeichel.

The Parkhead hierarchy will need to move quickly if they are to secure Horkas’s signature. With Olympiacos and Sevilla also in the chase, the competition for his services is intensifying.