Celtic and Ireland legend Packie Bonner says the enormity of replacing outgoing goalkeeper Joe Hart cannot be understated, describing the decision the club now faces as "huge".
Hart will play his final game for Celtic in Saturday's Scottish Cup Final 2024 against Rangers, an occasion that will also mark the end of his professional football career as a whole.
Brendan Rodgers and his players will aim to send the 37-year-old off with his sixth trophy in three years in Glasgow this weekend. Once the dust settles, however, the manager and his staff will almost certainly look to replace the Englishman as Celtic's first-choice goalkeeper.
"I think getting the right replacement for Joe in is huge," Bonner told The Celtic Way. "They have two other goalkeepers there. Whether they stay around or not is another question.
"I don't know what that situation is, whether Siegrist will go or not. Scott Bain has been around, and you could say he's the perfect number two.
"I think the perfect model is that you have a really good number one, a good backup, and then a young goalkeeper as number three, who's got potential. They might not be as experienced, but are learning from the others and eventually will come through the system."
Celtic have been linked with a number of goalkeepers in recent weeks, but the search will begin in earnest after Saturday's fifth and final derby showdown of the season.
Bonner added: "Ultimately, though, you need that strong number one, and they need to have all the attributes that make them a number one – great shot-stopping, commanding their area, good communication across the backline, good with their feet.
"It's a huge position to fill in any situation, but it's even bigger when someone with such a big presence like Joe Hart is going."
Look out for The Celtic Way's interview with Celtic and Ireland legend Packie Bonner in full on Thursday, May 23.
