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Southampton: Celtic set for stunning transfer swoop for Saints goalkeeper

By Marc Walker

ALTACH, AUSTRIA - JULY 14: Fraser Forster of Southampton reacts during the friendly match between SCR Altach and FC Southampton at Cashpoint Arena on July 14, 2019 in Altach, Austria. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)
ALTACH, AUSTRIA - JULY 14: Fraser Forster of Southampton reacts during the friendly match between SCR Altach and FC Southampton at Cashpoint Arena on July 14, 2019 in Altach, Austria. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images) /
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Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster is reportedly set for a return to his former club Celtic.

According to a report from the Scottish Sun and the BBC, the current SPL champions have agreed to sign the 31-year-old on an initial loan deal.

It was Celtic that Saints signed Forster from as they were looking for a new first-choice shot-stopper back in 2014.

He commanded a £10m fee then and enjoyed a highly successful first campaign on the South Coast up until March.

With eight games left of the 2014/15 season, he sustained a terrible injury – a tear of the patella tendon – and would be out of action until January 2016.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 07: Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster (l) consoles Barcelona player Lionel Messi after a near miss during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Celtic and Barcelona at Celtic Park on November 7, 2012 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 07: Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster (l) consoles Barcelona player Lionel Messi after a near miss during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Celtic and Barcelona at Celtic Park on November 7, 2012 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /

Forster has played 125 times for Saints but has clearly struggled to get back to the level that he was playing at before his injury.

Especially as a goalkeeper, the mental scars of a problem like that must be very hard to overcome. He was noticeably slower around the box and along his goalline, and perhaps always conscious of his past issues.

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When a player is struggling like that, he really may need a change of scene. With Forster close to rejoining Celtic, this couldn’t be a more ideal situation for him.

After enjoying two loan spells and a subsequent £2.2m move to Glasgow from Newcastle, the 6ft 7in giant had some very memorable times in Scotland.

One of the best matches that he played in was Celtic’s 2-1 victory on the Champions League over Barcelona; an unbelievable atmosphere at Celtic Park spurred players such as Forster and Victor Wanyama to a landmark win back in 2012.

According to the Scottish Sun, his chance to return has come about because of an injury to Celtic’s second-choice goalkeeper Scott Bain, but there’s no reason why he couldn’t become a hero there again if he takes his chance.

Craig Gordon is the Bhoys’ current number one, but Forster will gain great confidence from working with his former manager Neil Lennon once again.

Next. Brighton vs Saints: Five players who have played for both clubs. dark

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