Fraser Forster is in Southampton’s first team plans for the season ahead with little prospect of a cut price departure, on loan or on a permanent basis.
A report in The Sun claimed that Celtic had opened talks to bring the keeper back but the circumstances of his August 2019 loan deal are no longer in place.
The sale of Angus Gunn to Norwich has moved the goalposts leaving Southampton with just Forster and Alex McCarthy to compete for a place in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.
With no plans to sign a keeper this summer Southampton would need to receive a significant offer before they would consider selling the former England keeper.
Reviewing the goalkeeping situation at Southampton in relation to Celtic’s interest in Forster, Hampshire Live reports:
The news comes after Saints have already sold Angus Gunn to Premier League rivals Norwich City this summer in a deal that could rise to around £10m including some optimistic clauses.
But where does Gunn’s departure leave the club’s goalkeeper department, and what are Ralph Hasenhuttl’s plans going forward with his crop of shot-stoppers?
Gunn’s exit leaves Saints with three senior goalkeepers: Forster, Alex McCarthy and Harry Lewis, with Kingsley Latham among the list of 11 players being released this summer.
All three goalkeepers are set to see their current contracts with the club expire next summer (2022), with only McCarthy currently in talks over his future.
Forster, who will be 34 by the time his current terms expire, is heading into what could be a crucial season for his Southampton future. As one of the club’s high earners, he will have to cement his place as a clear number one if he wants to be rewarded with a new deal.
Meanwhile, McCarthy, two years his junior, is expected to be on course to stay beyond the end of next season, all things being well.
Harry Lewis, however, could find himself available for loan this summer after failing to break into Hasenhuttl’s first team.
Last season McCarthy played in 30 EPL matches with Forster in goals for the other eight. Lewis has yet to play in the EPL, he spent the 2017/18 season on loan at Dundee United.
Ange Postecoglou seems to have settled on Vasilis Barkas as his first choice with Scott Bain and Conor Hazard as back up.
In a year’s time Forster could be available as a free agent but it seems that the transfer of Gunn to Norwich has closed the door on Forster returning to Celtic.