Celtic will reportedly face competition from a top Premier League side in their hopes of signing Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster this summer.
According to the Daily Record, Neil Lennon is ‘desperate’ to sign the Englishman this summer but could face a fight from an unnamed top-four Premier League side. The 32-year-old has spent this season on loan with the Bhoys and looks surplus to requirements at the Saints, with Ralph Hasenhuttl reportedly preferring Angus Gunn and Alex McCarthy as his shot-stoppers.
The report from the Daily Record suggests that:
“Cash-strapped Southampton are keen to sell the keeper as they bid to slash their wage bill and Neil Lennon is desperate to make his loan deal permanent.
“Forster is among a list of top earners they want to offload and allowing him to return to Celtic last summer was an attempt to put the keeper in the shop window.”
Do you think Celtic can still sign Forster this summer?
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TIF Thoughts…
The ‘keeper has impressed in his performances for Celtic this season; conceding just 17 goals in 28 appearances in the Scottish top-flight; keeping 14 clean sheets in the process (per Transfermarkt). The former England international is currently valued at £5.85 million so he could be a relatively cheap option for Lennon, but he may face a battle to convince him to make his loan stay a permanent one if the reports that a top-four Premier League side have shortlisted him are true.
It will be interesting to see whether Forster prefers a return to Parkhead this summer, should the top-four side offer him a better deal. You would assume that the 32-year-old would be second choice at all of Liverpool, Leicester City, Manchester City and Chelsea, due to the quality of their first-choice keepers. If they offer him more money, however, perhaps he will be convinced to remain in England upon his return rather than making his loan stay with the Hoops a permanent one.