Saints will be leading the chase for Celtic stars Fraser Forster and Virgil Van Dijk after the Glasgow side crashed to a 4-1 defeat in the Champions League qualifiers in Poland last night.

Saints have allegedly already had a bid for England keeper Forster turned down, but could be heading back to Scotland as the vultures circle around Celtic Park with the Bhoys looking certain to be heading out of the Champions League unless they can pull back a 4-1 deficit to Legia Warsaw after last nights first leg, to make matters worse they also will be missing Nigerian defender Efe Ambrose who will be suspended after being sent off.

This means that Celtic will have to sell without the big Champions league money, Forster will be looking to make a breakthrough into the England side and he knows he is not going to get it by playing in a one horse Scottish league.

So Saints could be making a joint bid for the keeper as well as Van Dijk who looks to be a good replacement for Dejan Lovren.

Collectively it will cost Saints the best part of £20 million, but that is small change for us as a club having just banked £100 million from the five who have left St Mary's so far, yes it would probably be a million or two more than Saints would like to pay, but given we got far in excess than their true worth for our infamous five and the short time left before the Premier season starts, surely Saints would be better to pay that extra and land their targets rather than risk losing them to other clubs by haggling over a million or two.

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montecristo added 10:20 - Jul 31 Id bet money that neither move will happen this Board has a totally different agenda and Saints fans are being naive if they dont realise it. Bertrand signed on loan ffs, when we have clawed in nearly 100m??? What does that tell you?? I await developments with baited breath.
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Fordy added 10:21 - Jul 31 Well, they certainly won't want to sell before the second leg now. They will believe they can win 3-0 at home as their home form in Europe is something else compared with their away form. I guess we'll have to sit tight and hope Legia get a couple of away goals in Glasgow.
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BarnetSaint added 10:24 - Jul 31 Just get your fooking cheque book out, stop phaffing about and buy FFS. Our players leave in an instant yet it seems painfully slow when it comes to buying, which of course should have been done prior or during our fire sale.
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owenthesaints added 10:44 - Jul 31 Good news that we can now pursue two new players, BUT Celtic did lose and let in four goals in the process. Might it be that their defence isn't the best in the world – or even in Scotland come to that! Luckily Forster is an English keeper and not your traditional Scottish goalie, and by all accounts he had a good game last night including a penalty save. Celtic only paid £2m for Forster and £2.6m for van Dijk, so £20m is a good return for their money. A bit of nostalgia surrounding Saints and Scottish keepers: many of us will remember Eric Martin's predecessor Dave MacLaren. Dave played for Wolves in 1965/65 and Saints signed him the following season. Ironically, Saints had put 9 (nine) past him in a 9 - 3 victory – not one of Ted Bate's best signings.

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ExiledSupporter added 10:54 - Jul 31 Please correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Campbell Forsyth the immediate predecessor to Eric Martin?
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SanMarco added 11:20 - Jul 31 I think so too Exiled. I was born in '61 and I remember Forsyth but not Maclaren...
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schatfield added 13:41 - Jul 31 when is the return leg being played? Cos they wont sell before then...lets hope celtic lose then, the day after we can pinch those 2 players
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owenthesaints added 13:52 - Jul 31 Campbell replaced Tony Godfrey and was in goal when we were promoted to Division 1 (COYR). In the 8th game of 66/67 season, he broke his leg in a three way 'head on crash' with Ian Callaghan (Liverpool) and Denis Hollywood (there was only ever going to be one winner). Gerry Gurr was reserve keeper but deemed not up to Div 1 by Ted Bates so he signed MacLaren... Forsythe got back in the side but was replaced by Eric Martin who went on to play 248 games for the Saints from 1967 - 75. MacLaren left the Dell in 1967 and joined non-league Worcester City. Who said nostalgia isn't what it used to be!

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Zambucco added 14:31 - Jul 31 I think the 2nd leg is August 6th, so any transfers will happen after that. Or sign them but let them play that match?
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