It’s never pleasant when a transfer or failed move works out badly for everyone involved, but that is the case for Fraser Forster just now.
Southampton are paying a big wage for a player who’s not being used, Celtic are missing a standout player from last season and it’s hurting their performances, while he must be demoralised as he sits in the stands during his final prime years.
Clearly Celtic were unable to to find a way to bring him back to the club in the summer, but hindsight shows they really should’ve done whatever it took to get that deal done.
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There will be renewed hope that something can be sorted next month, but time will tell if it’s a case of too little, too late.
A report from Football Insider spoke to Danny Mills about Forster possibly returning to Celtic, and he even likened his possible return to the Edouard Mendy situation at Chelsea:
“It would give everyone a boost. You suddenly walk into the dressing room and see the new signing and think ‘ooh, that’s a bit of quality that, that’s brilliant .Unless he’s in your position that’s never good but you have to deal with that!
“Look at Edouard Mendy’s done at Chelsea. He’s come in and given everyone a bit of confidence, that’s quality. Emiliano Martinez at Aston Villa is another one.
“Suddenly it gives everyone a lift, a bit of a boost and then you go out and get that win and it snowballs from there. He could do the same [as Mendy and Martinez]for Celtic.”
One of the things about a top class keeper is you don’t truly appreciate them until they leave, and you’re left with a situation where you worry every time the opposition get close to your goal.
It’s not a crazy comparison because Chelsea’s defence looks much more solid after Mendy came to the club and gave Frank Lampard some competent goalkeeping play, so it’s easy to see Forster having a similar impact.
He had his chance and led Celtic fans all and Neil Lennon up the garden path regarding returning. He should never get another opportunity for being so deceitful.