CELTIC have been handed a double boost in their hopes of signing Fraser Forster as they bid for the historic 10 in a row.
The fans’ favourite was reported to be on Frank Lampard’s radar as the Chelsea boss looks for a replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga who has been linked with a two-year loan switch to either Valencia or Sevilla, as CQN reported last month.
Forster, who still has two years to run on a £90,000-per-week contract at Southampton, is up for grabs at around £6million.
That fee and those wages will not frighten off the Stamford Bridge outfit, but would be too steep for the Hoops to contemplate if the 32-year-old shotstopper did return to Parkhead on a permanent deal.
It now looks as though Lampard has fixed his sights on TWO other netminders which could leave the way clear for the Hoops hierarchy to try to attempt to negotiate their way to a solution with the six times-capped England international and the south coast club.
The London side appear to be focusing on Atletico Madrid No.1 Jan Oblak as their priority target, according to a report in the Daily Record.
Lampard also likes the look of Dean Henderson who has been on loan at Sheffield United from Manchester United this season. He got a close-up view of the 23-year-old rising star when his team lost 3-0 at Bramall Lane at the weekend.
The Slovenian international has a £120million buy-out clause, but the Chelsea gaffer is hoping the current financial climate in football due to the coronavirus pandemic could drive down the asking price.
Neil Lennon currently has Scott Bain as his only keeper with first-team experience with youngsters Connor Hazard and Ross Doohan as back-up.
Craig Gordon, of course, left at the end of his contract to rejoin Hearts on a two-year deal.
Forster remains high on the list of the Irishman’s targets as he prepares for what he calls a “monumental season” for the club.
Current Scotland keeper David Marshall, at cash-stricken Wigan, has been linked with a return to Parkhead after leaving for Norwich City in 2007.
Ex-England No.1 Joe Hart, who is a free agent after leaving Burnley, is another on Lennon’s list while AEK Athen’s £5million-rated Vasilios Barkas has been mentioned.
