Fraser Forster is being targeted by Chelsea manager Frank Lampard and according to Noel Whelan, Celtic FC could have a tough time in convincing the 32-year-old to remain in Scotland.
Forster spent the 2019-20 season on loan at Parkhead and Neil Lennon wants to sign him on a permanent deal. But now the entry of Chelsea have spoiled everything up and there’s every chance the Celtic boss might have to find an alternative really quick.
Noel Whelan believes the Glasgow side have the odds stacked heavily against them in this transfer race and the club’s management have a lot of work to do.
Whelan told Football Insider: “He’s a player that was surplus to requirements at Southampton and he has rejuvenated himself at Celtic. I felt he was on the verge of another England call-up, the way he was playing.
“With having such a great season with the performances he’s put in, now teams are looking at him in the English Premier League. Can Celtic can afford him?
“He’s got two years left on his contract at Southampton – can they afford the wages that he’s getting there, because he’s a high earner at Southampton? Can you persuade him Celtic are the club to be at at the start of next season?
“There’s a lot of work to be done on this contract and a lot of thought to go into it from the player himself – does he want to stay in the Premier League and give that a shot?
“If it’s a top-four, he will be playing in Europe so it’s one of those – he seems like he’s very, very at home at Celtic because he’s been there before, Neil Lennon seems to have a great relationship with the player. It really does come down to the player and where he wants to play his football.”
It’s no secret that Fraser Forster wants to play for Celtic FC next season but will he be bold enough to snub a move to a club like Chelsea?
Not only will he get to play in the Champions League next season but with the way Chelsea are shaping up their squad, Lampard’s men could also challenge for the Premier League title pretty soon.
Also, Forster currently earns £70,000-a-week at St Mary’s and we will have to wait and see if the player is willing to take a pay-cut in order to join Celtic or not.
But having said this, we feel Chelsea will also not be too enthusiastic to pay such high wages to a player who’s clearly going to be a backup to Kepa next season.
Willy Caballero is the current back-up keeper at Stamford Bridge and he earns £30,000-a-week at the club. And if these are the levels we are talking about then Celtic can also afford to pay such wages to Fraser Forster next season.
