Four Potential Replacements For Fraser Forster If The Celtic Star Returns To Southampton

David Tully

4 years ago

Categories: Celtic News, Galleries, Transfer News

Tags: Aynsley Pears, Celtic, Fraser Forster, Keiron Westwood, Middlesbrough, Radoslaw Majecki, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Walter Benitez

With the domestic season having been brought to an end, Celtic’s attentions may move back towards the transfer market in the coming weeks.

The future of Fraser Forster is a major bone of contention with the Hoops keen on signing him on a permanent basis. There are doubts, though, over whether the Scottish club can afford his transfer fee and wages.

With that mind, we have decided to look at possible economical alternatives for Celtic’s current number one.

Press the next page as we go through four potential options if the club are not able to hold on to Forster.

Keiren Westwood

The experienced Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper may well be 35 years of age but the Irish international is still regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the English Championship.

However, he has fallen out of favour under manager Garry Monk and could well be available for a modest sum when the transfer window reopens.

Aynsley Pears

Another English Championship shot-stopper but the Middlesbrough star is a lot younger at 22 years of age. He is available on a free transfer this summer, as things stand, with the Boro academy graduate having not signed a contract renewal.

Neil Lennon first brought in Forster on loan from Newcastle when he was only 22 back in 2010, and signing Pears could be seen as a similar investment for the future.

Walter Benitez

This would be a long shot as they are a number of English Premier League teams interested in the Nice keeper, but he is out of contract in June.

The Argentine is a decent age at 27, and the promise of Champions League football could well be used to draw him north of the border. The main obstacle, as with Forster, though, would be his salary demands.

Radoslaw Majecki

It is clear that Head of Football Operations Nicky Hammond has identified Polish football as a market where bargains can be found. The Scottish champions signed Patryk Klimala in January while they have also been linked with Legia Warsaw left-back Michal Karbownik.

Majecki’s situation is slightly different in regards to the fact that he was only signed by Monaco in January but was loaned back to Legia Warsaw for the rest of the season. However, with the Ligue One side looking to sell players, they may be open to offloading the promising Polish keeper this summer for the right price. The 20-year-old was signed for €7m, and the Hoops could well get him for a similar figure or slightly below that.