According to a recent report by the Daily Express, Premiership heavyweights Celtic have been handed a massive boost towards their transfer agenda this summer as Southampton have come to the conclusion that English international shot-stopper Fraser Forster is surplus to requirements at St.Mary’s Stadium. The report claims that Ralph Hasenhuttl already has multiple transfers lined up ahead of next season and that he views Forster as a dispensable member of the team.
While the fact that Celtic are keen on Southampton’s Fraser Forster has now been clarified, the Saints are reportedly looking to offload a flurry of first-team names to clear up space ahead of the next league campaign. Celtic boss Neil Lennon’s desire to bring the Englishman back to Parkhead next season has been no secret, but he revealed to the Scottish Sun just last week that negotiations were drawing to a close. In the light of this new information though, the gaffer could look to make one final push towards acquiring his primary target.
What Is Celtic’s Current Goalkeeping Situation?
With the departures of both last season’s loanee Fraser Forster and veteran stopper Craig Gordon, Neil Lennon’s side currently find themselves with just one option to choose for the goalkeeping role – 28-year-old Scott Bain. The man who spent last season as the third choice keeper in the ranks featured in all of the Celts’ pre-season friendlies so far. While Bain’s performances might not have done too much to fill the fans with confidence, he did manage to pull off a couple of smart saves against world-class superstars like Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Moussa Dembele along the way.
What Did Forster Achieve At Celtic Last Season?
Saying that the Southampton loanee was an important part of the Celtic team from last season would only be a massive understatement. The Englishman was nothing short of a sensation in between the sticks for the Hoops’ and taking his presence out of the team could’ve taken them down an extremely different path last season.
His 28 Premiership appearances for Neil Lennon’s side yielded just 17 opposition goals, with the experienced stopper keeping clean sheets in a whopping 50 percent of all the league matches he played.
What Makes Forster A Good Option For Celtic?
The Englishman has been around the Premier League for the longest time now, and his experience playing for both Southampton and the English national side will be priceless to Celtic next season. The Bhoys are entering the upcoming campaign hoping to repeat their title-triumph, with the added catch being that it would be their tenth straight Premiership trophy. Having already taken a year and gotten accustomed to the Celtic way, it would be in the club’s best interest to bring the stopper to Parkhead.
Celtic Are Keen On Southampton’s Fraser Forster: Why Lennon Must Get This Done
For the manner in which Forster’s career in between the sticks was reinvigorated by Celtic last season, he perhaps owes it to the club to come back and help them achieve what would be a historic title win for the Celts. The Englishman spent the last couple of seasons as the third-choice at Southampton, and the possibility of gaining regular playing time is something he shouldn’t really pass up on.
The Celts are entering a state of desperation with just a few days remaining until the commencement of next season. Signing Forster is undoubtedly the ideal situation for the Bhoys, and it would be an impressive piece of business if they’re able to get it over the line in the coming days.
