Celtic eye Hertha keeper Ernst as Saracchi frozen out at Boca Juniors

Celtic could face a fight with Feyenoord to sign Hertha Berlin goalkeeper Tjark Ernst this summer, with the German club’s manager Stefan Leitl admitting he is braced for the shot-stopper’s departure.

The Daily Record reports that Ernst, a former Germany youth international, has been strongly linked with a move to Parkhead as well as to Gio van Bronckhorst’s Feyenoord side. The 2. Bundesliga goalkeeper reportedly has a release clause of around €5million, roughly £4.3million, written into his contract at Hertha.

According to the Daily Record, fellow German second-tier club Wolfsburg had also shown serious interest in Ernst but sources in Germany claim he has already knocked back their advances. That has left Celtic and Feyenoord as the two clubs most closely tied to a potential deal.

Leitl braced for exits

Hertha boss Leitl has made clear his club are prepared to lose Ernst, or indeed any of their other prized assets, before the transfer window closes. Speaking to German outlet TAG24, he said: “I believe the names are known and accordingly we must be prepared in case something else happens.”

Those comments suggest Hertha are already planning for life without their first-choice goalkeeper, which could encourage Celtic to move quickly if they want to beat Feyenoord to his signature.

Saracchi frozen out at Boca

Elsewhere, the Daily Record reports that Marcelo Saracchi has been told to train separately from the rest of the squad after returning to parent club Boca Juniors following his loan spell in Glasgow.

The Uruguayan left-back was a key part of Celtic’s title and cup double last season during his loan spell at Parkhead in 2025/26. Celtic had been keen on bringing the 28-year-old back to Scotland on another loan, but Record Sport says the club’s approach was rejected outright by Boca, who are only willing to sell the player permanently.

Saracchi has also been linked with a move to Argentine rivals Independiente. Local outlet El Intransigente claims Boca head coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena has now frozen the 11-time Uruguay international out of first-team plans entirely.

The same report suggests Boca’s sporting director, the former Barcelona and Villarreal midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme, would be willing to listen to offers of around $3million, roughly £2.2million, for Saracchi as the club look to move him on this window.

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