Petr Cech endorsement proves that Radek Vitek can be a resounding success at Celtic
Petr Cech has backed Man United goalkeeper Radek Vitek to have a successful career at the top level as he is linked with a move to Celtic this summer.
Vitek enjoyed a successful loan spell in the English Championship with Bristol City last season.
He is expected to leave Old Trafford again this summer, despite impressing in the second tier, with Celtic keen on his services.
Martin O'Neill is after another goalkeeper this summer following Kasper Schmeichel's departure and retirement.
Vitek would clearly be a shrewd addition to the Hoops' ranks given what legendary former stopper Cech has previously said about his quality and potential.
The 22-year-old would surely arrive at Parkhead as Celtic's first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Viljami Sinisalo this summer.
What has Petr Cech said about Radek Vitek?
Sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Celtic admire Vitek, with United open to letting him leave permanently this summer.
Vitek secured a clean sweep of Bristol City's three major individual honours in May, winning the Fans' Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.
He kept 12 clean sheets and conceded 54 goals in 41 Championship appearances, and was given some wise advice from Premier League legend Cech after the end of the campaign.
Speaking to BBC Sport about his future, he said: "It's important to play. Of course, there are situations when you know that you have a big chance to come back and fight for your position. That's a different thing, but as it stands at United, Lammens has done really well. I'm sure he [Vitek] will want to go somewhere and continue playing.
"It's great to see him progress because playing for the under-21s with United is one thing, but then he played men's football in Austria, which went really well for him, then he came back to England with Bristol City and did well there. That obviously gives him an opportunity to attract even attention from teams in the Premier League.
"I met him a couple of years ago, when we had a training session and talked about things. I could see he's got the hunger and the willingness to get better."
If one of the best goalkeepers of all time believes that he has the tools to succeed, then surely Vitek will make a real impression at Celtic if they win the race for his services.
What has O'Neill said about signing a new goalkeeper?
Vitek is not the only goalkeeper linked to Parkhead this summer, with O'Neill recently making it clear that he is keen to bolster his options between the sticks.
Speaking to the media last week, he said: "We’ve only got Sinisalo here at this minute, and we’ve got Ross (Doohan), so we’re definitely looking for another goalkeeper. Whether it’ll be a youngish fellow, someone the same age as Sinisalo, or somebody a bit older, we’re definitely looking at it."
Football Insider recently revealed that Wolfsberger's Nikolas Polster was on Celtic's radar after some impressive form in the Austrian top-flight.
Other reports from the continent have claimed that Las Palmas keeper Dinko Horkas and Hertha Berlin stopper Ernst Tjark are both on their radar as it stands.