Pundit Chris Sermanni believes that Celtic’s chase of Fraser Forster isn’t completely dead in the water just yet.
Sermanni was a guest on the latest episode of The Cynic Weekly podcast and the panel was talking about many things involving the Glasgow-based club. One thing that Sermanni focused on was Forster and he made his opinion clear on why there is may still be a chance that Forster ends up at Parkhead.
Neil Lennon recently confirmed that while Celtic had agreed a deal with Southampton to sign Forster permanently this summer, talks have stalled as things had gone ‘quiet’ from the player’s end of the deal.
But while talking about the English goalkeeper, Sermanni said: “You’re obviously going to take the immediate cynical view, that the guy, after the Rangers cup final and after the Lazio games, was telling how it has done wonders for his confidence, how coming back here is just going to revitalise his career and this is his home and he wants to be here and things like that.
“And then, they say a deal was agreed and he’s holding up on that. I don’t know, maybe he’s considering it just now. I think, in ordinary times if you will, if the transfer [deadline] was 31st August, this might be one of those long-standing ones that dragged on a wee bit and then eventually we got him back. The problem is we probably don’t have time to do that. My gut feeling [about] the club is they should probably go in and sort out a keeper if we can’t get an answer from him quickly.
Do you think Celtic can still sign Forster?
Yes, there's still a chance
No, that won't happen now
“But at the same time, there’s something telling me this isn’t done yet. I still think there’s a chance we’ll sign him – just because it seems as if the finances have been done, there seems to be an affection with him. He might be thinking there might be something else out there. But it might be that it comes to the conclusion [that] he still wants to be here. It’s not dead for me yet.”
Sermanni certainly seems to believe that even though Lennon has revealed that Forster has gone ‘quiet’ about returning to Parkhead, there is still a chance that the Southampton man does sign in the summer and he’s just taking his time to make a decision on his future.
TIF Thoughts…
Before Lennon had talked about the Englishman, STV had revealed that the goalkeeper has chosen to stay at Southampton and fight for his place there. They had revealed that Forster had held talks with people at Southampton before making this decision.
Football Insider had reported that Forster earns a huge wage at Southampton and that is about three times what Celtic’s highest earners currently get. The report had claimed that Forster currently earns £100,000-a-week and this would make it tough for Celtic to sign the former Newcastle United man.
Even though Sermanni does sound positive, reports aren’t currently pointing to the fact that Celtic can still sign Forster. Maybe, it is already time for Celtic fans to move on and the club should now pursue other goalkeeper targets.