The Celtic hierarchy are being reported North of the border as shocked and stunned after Fraser Forster informed them that after previously wishing to return to Glasgow for another season, he now prefers to stay at Southampton.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon and the club’s chief executive Peter Lawwel were reportedly left stunned by Fraser Forster’s decision to give his career at St Mary's another crack.
That is according to a report from The Scottish Sun, which suggests both senior Celtic figures were left aghast when the club’s former keeper in two seperate spells both permanent and the recent loan made it clear his intention was to now stay at Southampton to fight for first-team football.
That is according to a report from The Scottish Sun, which suggests both senior Celtic figures were left aghast when the club’s former loanee made it clear his intention to fight for first-team football at Southampton.
The report further claims that both men were"‘led to believe" that an agreement would be reached that would see the Keeper back at Celtic in 2020-21, which saw them allow Craig Gordon his move to Hearts.
It is unclear whether this U turn in developments is driven by Saints who did not want another loan spell that would see them actually paying part of his wages to play for Celtic, but would have preferred a permanent deal to somewhere or Forster himself, but certainly it seems that Ralph Hasenhuttl has spoken to the keeper and the decision has now been made.
Forster staying would see either McCarthy or Gunn move on, neither has been totally convincing over the season, McCarthy has come in and steadied the ship, but he has been seen as too error prone and having spent most of his career as a back up, does not have the levels of concentration needed to play a full season.
Angus Gunn is young and probably needs a spell out on loan where the pressure is off him to regain his confidence and come back stronger, so the likelihood is that Forster and McCarthy will fight it out for the top spot and Gunn will go out on loan somewhere.
All three keepers have suffered from playing behind a defence that since the departure of Van Dijk and Fonte has been disorganised, if Forster can come back with his confidence restored then he is likely to be the number one again.
Saints fans have to approach this with an open mind, with the right defenders brought in Forster could again flourish.