Journalist Tom English has made a claim about Fraser Forster and if Celtic can afford to sign the English goalkeeper.
English was recently a guest on the latest episode of the Scottish Football podcast and he discussed the situation of Forster and if Celtic can still sign the Englishman from Southampton.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon had talked about Forster some weeks ago and had confirmed that while a deal was agreed with the Saints, things went ‘quiet’ from Forster’s end of the agreement. Football Insider had claimed that Forster earns close to £100,000-a-week in his current Southampton contract and that amount is three times more than what Celtic’s top earners in Scott Brown, Christopher Jullien and Callum McGregor current get.
Are Celtic's chances of signing Forster dead in the water now?
Yes, no chance we sign him
No, there's still hope
When talking about Forster, English said: “There’s an awful lot of money at stake there – transfer fee, contract. I’d say they would move heaven and earth to try and get him. They would throw every shilling that they could afford at that situation. Because he’s been a colossus in two spells at Celtic, there’s no doubt about it. One of their great goalkeepers.
“[The] League Cup final [against Rangers] was freakish. It was unbelievable, the stuff he was doing. I’m looking around the world at goalkeepers who might be in the general ballpark for Celtic. I can’t see too many better than him.”
English believes that the money involved in this deal is very high and Celtic would have to spend everything that they have to afford Forster at this point.
TIF Thoughts…
During his loan spell at Parkhead in the 2019/20 season, Forster was very good in UEFA Europa League games against the likes of Lazio, Cluj, Copenhagen and Rennes. As English points out, he proved crucial in the League Cup final as he saved a penalty in the game against Rangers.
That shows how important a player Forster was for Celtic, but he is currently valued at £5.85 million by Transfermarkt and the fact that he earns close to £100,000-a-week in his current contract is a big complication. He is also 32 and not getting any younger with every passing day. While he was a very important player last season, Celtic might not want to destroy their wage structure by roping him in this summer.