Fraser Forster to Celtic will always make sense but financial reality can't be dismissed

By David Walton

July 18, 2021

It didn’t take long, but the Fraser Forster to Celtic links are back on again this summer.

Indeed, the Scottish Sun last night reported that Celtic are in talks with Southampton about another loan deal for the big Englishman.

Forster rejected a move back to Parkhead last season after a superb loan spell in 2019/20. However, the Sun reports that if Celtic want to do a deal this time around, they’ll likely need to pay two-thirds of his wages.

There are some who are cynical of any more for Forster. Some feel that it’s a move lacking dignity given Forster KO’d a move here last summer. Others believe Fraser simply just doesn’t suit Ange Postecoglou’s playing style given his troubling distribution at times.

However, the truth is Forster to Celtic will never not be a good move footballing wise. He’s a major upgrade on anything we currently have. If Forster came through the Parkhead gates and signed on this afternoon, there would be fanfare over it.

Fraser Forster to Celtic looks highly expensive

But what can’t be ignored is this apparent wage issue. With the Sun report stating that Forster is on £130k-per-week, there’s no chance we’re paying two-thirds of that. Are we really splashing out just under 87k every week on Fraser?

Goalkeeper is certainly a priority position this summer. For me, we’ve needed a replacement for Scott Bain for some time now. However, in terms of our first-choice shot-stopper, Vasilis Barkas deserves another chance.

Barkas put in a strong showing against Preston North End in yesterday’s friendly at Celtic Park. If he’s going to start proving himself this season, then the money spent on Forster would be much better spent elsewhere.

Celtic remain in need of a new right-back, left-winger, left-back, centre-back, and centre-forward. Whilst a new goalkeeper would be ideal, the financial side of the deal has to be right. That’s what makes a move for Forster highly questionable this summer.

Even so, supporters are allowed to dream. Many believe, regardless of what happened last summer, that this remains a no-brainer:

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