Celtic are reportedly just 48 hours away from completing their first signing of the summer transfer window in what will surely be a massive boost to the club’s quest for 10IAR.
With club boss Neil Lennon looking to keep the Southampton FC keeper around, reports are stating that his future should be clearer within the next 48 hours. With two years remaining on Forster’s contract with the English Premier League side, and two keepers placed above him there now in the pecking order, it seems likely he could come to stay at Parkhead for the next few seasons.
With an excellent run of form during the pandemic-shortened season, it would be a major victory ahead of the 2020-2021 campaign beginning in August as the Hoops look to win a historic 10th-straight title. Forster was tied for first in the Premiership with 14 clean sheets during the abbreviated campaign this season, racking up a clean sheet in 50% of his matches.
While the club do have another keeper on contract at the moment with Scott Bain, he only made seven appearances on the season, with two in League play, and five in Europe. 37 year-old Scottish international keeper Craig Gordon is set for a club exit this summer as well with an expiring contract, paving the way for a likely Forster return to maintain goalkeeping duties.
As reported by the Daily Mail and as cited by the Daily Record, Forster’s future will be determined within the next 48 hours. And Celtic might be set to keep the English keeper on loan for another season.
This could be an absolute masterstroke on the part of the board. It will solve the club’s problem of having to pay a huge transfer fee for the keeper while Southampton also won’t be stuck with a player that they are looking to get rid of.
Neil Lennon has also made it clear he hopes to return Southampton loanee winger Mohamed Elyounoussi. While the winger stated in April he hoped to return to England to prove his worth for the club, he could very likely remain in Glasgow on loan as the English club currently have multiple players well-suited to his role on the wings. With seven goals and six assists on the season in all play, he could prove to be an impact player again in the upcoming campaign