Kris Commons believes that Celtic are closing in on a deal to sign Fraser Forster.
The two men were essential parts of Neil Lennon’s first term in charge of Celtic with the keeper returning last August on loan from Southampton.
Forster is acknowledged as Celtic’s top transfer target but they face a number of issues to bring him back to Glasgow either on loan or on a permanent basis.
Goalkeeper problems at Southampton and Forster’s excellence at Celtic could create a reprieve for the 32-year-old at St Mary’s while his wages for the two years left on his contract would be impossible for Celtic to match.
Covering his column in the Daily Mail, the Daily Record reports Commons saying:
I believe they’re getting close to signing (Fraser) Forster. But they should have made a bigger effort to hold on to (Craig) Gordon.
I was really angered by Gordon being offered reduced terms. He’s 37, not 45, and he’s been one of the best if not the best goalkeepers in Scotland over the past decade.
If Celtic had been definitively ruled out of the running for Forster, I wouldn’t have had any hesitation in handing him the No 1 jersey.
He clearly feels he needs first-team football to reclaim his Scotland place and, if Forster is coming back, he won’t get much of that at Celtic Park.
But what happens if, over the coming days, Celtic lose out on their No 1 target? If it’s about money, Chelsea can offer Forster four times the wages available at Scotland’s richest club.
Gordon’s departure now makes it more important than ever that Celtic push the boat out to get Forster back. For me, it’s just typical Celtic. They’ve always had this knack of trying to get players as cheap as possible, without bursting the bank. When you’re on the verge of ten in a row, you have to go that extra yard.
In 2015 Commons happily signed a two year extension to his Celtic contract but during his final season the only appearances that he made were on loan at Hibs as they chased promotion from The Championship.
Chelsea could offer Forster similar or better wages than he is on at Southampton but after one first team appearance between January 2018 and August 2019 the keeper is on record stating that playing first team football is more important than bolstering his bank balance.