According to a recent report by Daily Mail, Premiership giants Celtic are said to have turned their attention to Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, as an alternative option to last season’s loanee Fraser Forster. The Celts’ desire to sign the Englishman who had been so integral to their title run last season is entirely understandable and fully warranted. Despite their massive hopes though, the Celts seem to have hit a solid stumbling block concerning acquiring the Southampton man’s services again for the upcoming campaign.
Although the report suggests that Celtic are interested in Fulham’s Marcus Bettinelli, it has been clarified that they will only make the move if their attempts to bring Forster in fails. The Fulham man is said to have just one year left on his current contract at Craven Cottage, and the report claims that he could be available for as low as £1m.
Speaking to the Mail about Forster, Neil Lennon said, “We would dearly love him back here but if that’s not going to be the case then we’ll look elsewhere. We’re looking at a number of options on the goalkeeping front. It’s such an important position and Fraser did wonderful things for us last season.”
What Is This Celtic Team’s Current Goalkeeping Situation?
Neil Lennon’s side are set to go into the upcoming campaign looking for what would be a record-breaking league title, but expecting to do that with their current squad condition would be like asking for trouble. The most worrying position at this moment that the gaffer must address at the earliest is undoubtedly at goalkeeping. Fraser Forster was brought in from Southampton to do a job last season, and the English veteran pulled out all the stops while operating between the sticks for the Parkhead club.
The end of his loan tenure meant that Forster has now returned to Southampton, while the Celts’ second-choice name – Craig Gordon, has also departed to join his boyhood club. This leaves Neil Lennon with Scott Bain as the only option to choose from at the back, and going into the Premiership campaign in such a condition would be unthinkable. Finding a keeper with the same level of enthusiasm and dedication as Forster certainly won’t be an easy task, but it’s one that the Bhoys have need to achieve before the commencement of next season.
What Makes Marcus Bettinelli A Good Option For Celtic?
The 28-year-old first made a name for himself as a bright goalkeeper back when the Cottagers were still plying their trade in the Premier League. The stopper has been a member of the Fulham squad since his youth levels, and his loan spells and Dartford and Accrington were steps in the right direction as well. Although the Englishman’s seven Premier League appearances yielded a disheartening 20 goals, his development since that campaign has been impressive. Last season, he managed a stellar record of 15 goals conceded from 14 Championship fixture.
Celtic Are Interested In Fulham’s Marcus Bettinelli: Should Lennon Sign Him Up?
The Celts will absolutely need to sign a new goalkeeper before the season commences, and the longer the dilemma goes on, the more desperate they’re going to get. It’s quite apparent to see that they’re still trying to push for the Forster acquisition, but the fact that they’re even considering alternatives is a step in the right direction. Bettinelli has showcased over the last few seasons that he has got what it takes to perform at the highest level, and with the Englishman still only 28, moving for him might not be a bad idea from the Celtic perspective.
