FRASER FORSTER was linked with a return to Celtic by Hampshire Live as they took seven players that could leave Southampton in search of game time and they mentioned that Neil Lennon’s side were interested in another move to the Scottish Champions. However, these rumours seem to have developed from a straight forward assumption that the player was playing and was happy then therefore if he went he would play and be happy.
However, this may not be the case. Forster was offered a Celtic return in the summer and declined to do so. The likely reason for that is that he is on £90k-a-week until May 31 2022. There should be no ill will towards the player but if we did manage it, resigning him would be a brilliant coup for Neil Lennon. Southampton are unlikely to loan Forster out with just Harry Lewis as No.2 to McCarthy whilst Angus Gunn remains out on loan at Stoke but one thing is clear and that is Forster is unlikely to work his way back into Hasenhuttl’s plans.
Forster isn’t the only one to be linked with a move to Celtic this week. Another England Internationalist and second pick keeper Dean Henderson has been linked in order to boost his Euro 2020 hopes. 90Min are claiming that the Manchester United player is on Celtic’s radar as they look to bolster their goalkeeping options.
Given that there have been two rumours in as many days linking Celtic with a new goalkeeper, it is fair to say that £4.5m man Vasilis Barkas has underwhelmed this far in his Celtic career; however, he has to be offered the opportunity to come good and playing Scott Bain ahead of him is to the hinderance of the team. That is no disrespect to Bain, he is a fine goalkeeper but Barkas was bought for the big money and whilst he has hardly set the world alight with his performances, he has been unlucky with the types of goals he’s conceded – owing to poor defending in front of him.
Neil Lennon and the recruitment team may be eyeing another goalkeeper. It would be prudent if they did given how well stocked we were last year compared to this year. Although it is likely that one of the two goalkeepers at the club now will start against Rangers in January and that is a must win game. Lennon needs to go with Barkas and get him his confidence back. If the January window comes and he feels there is another option then he can action this but for now, the best goalkeeper needs to play.
That is Barkas, a £4.5m acquisition from AEK Athens and Greece’s No.1. The transition to life in Glasgow hasn’t been smooth for the 26-year-old but he has joined the club at a truly extraordinary time, where emotions are fraught.
