Celtic have been dealt a major blow as the summer transfer window looms.
The Scottish giants have, of course, won the title due to the curtailment of the season because of COVID-19.
They lost just twice all season, collecting 80 points from 30 games, and sat 13 points clear of second-placed Rangers upon the campaign ending.
However, Neil Lennon’s side will be reeling from the fact that they are unlikely to be able to sign goalkeeper Fraser Forster in the summer window.
The 32-year-old returned to the Scottish giants in August on a loan deal from Southampton.
Since then, he has been a key member of Lennon’s squad, making 28 appearances in the top-flight and seven in the Europa League.
However, their plans to sign Forster this summer have been thrown into disarray.
The Scottish Sun reports that he would cost £5 million in the coming transfer window and he currently earns over £90,000-per-week at St Mary’s.
The report states that Celtic believed they had done a loan deal to bring the former England international back to the club.
However, The Scottish Sun reports that he is unlikely to be heading back to Parkhead.
Craig Gordon has also left the club, moving to Hearts after his deal north of the border expired, leaving Scott Bain as his only senior goalkeeper.
Bain has made a total of 46 appearances for Celtic but the report states Lennon is likely to go on the hunt for another senior goalkeeper this summer.
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
This will sting for Celtic.
Forster has been excellent for the Scottish giants thus far this season, keeping 14 clean sheets in 28 games for the club in the top-flight.
The 32-year-old initially played for Celtic in 2010, moving on loan from Newcastle United, and made that move permanent in 2014.
A switch to the Saints saw the club bank £10m but now, they are poised to say goodbye to Forster once again.
That will be a particularly painful farewell, given they had expected to be able to call upon him in the 2020/21 season.