The Daily Record has reported a potentially major blow in Celtic’s hopes of signing Fraser Forster on a permanent deal with the news that a “top-four” Premier League team has joined the race to secure the England international’s signature.
The Hoops had appeared to be favourites to re-sign the giant stopper either on a long-term deal or a repeat of last season’s 12 month loan from Southampton but with the report claiming that Forster is on one of the English big gun’s radar, it will put a serious dent in Neil Lennon’s transfer plans.
Celtic’s goalkeeping situation is far from straight forward with Craig Gordon also looking likely to have his departure confirmed and Scott Bain the only player with first-team experience still on the books.
Lennon has been linked with a host of keepers in recent weeks ranging from Vaclav Hladky who has just been released by St Mirren to Claudio Bravo, Ben Foster and Joe Hart of the Premier League.
Much will depend on the outcome of the Forster saga though with Southampton more likely to prefer selling their third choice keeper rather than having to pay a percentage of his wage for another year as the two years left on his contract runs down.
At a rumoured £10million and £70-90,000 a week, regardless of how much Forster loves the club, it could be basic economics that prevent Lennon from securing his number one target of the transfer window when it eventually opens – never mind the attention of one of English football’s biggest clubs.