Celtic fans have been given a much needed boost with the news that Mohamed Elyounoussi and Fraser Forster could be extending their stay depending on if/when the 2019/20 season is completed.
A report in The Daily Record has reported that the player’s parent club, Southampton, will be easy to deal with if their respective loan deals need to be extended beyond the 30th of June cut-off that is generally applied due to the summer transfer window opening on the 1st of July.
Alex Crook, a journalist, featured on talkSPORT today as a reporter with close ties to the south coast and revealed that Hoops fans can rest easy:
“Neil Lennon has come out and said we really need them to stay to the end of the season whenever that may be.
“Because they are both under contract Southampton are pretty relaxed about that.
“If they have to extend their loans I think they will so that’s good news for Celtic.”
FIFA has yet to clarify it’s position on the transfer window and loan contracts should the season be extended beyond the end of June, with UEFA’s preference being that fixtures are completed before this date.
Elyounoussi looked like he could be set for a permanent stay at Parkhead after a blistering run of form before being injured in November, however he hasn’t scored or assisted since and is less likely to return, other than on an extended loan deal.
Forster, on the other hand, is the name at the top of almost every Bhoys fan’s shopping list given a series of stunning performances on the highest stage, and few would bet against the giant stopper being Celtic’s biggest spend. Even fewer would complain – whenever the transfer window eventually opens.