FOR KEEPS

Celtic transfer news: Neil Lennon to urge board to sign £90k-a-week Forster from Southampton permanently

NEIL LENNON will urge the Celtic board to splash the cash to sign Fraser Forster from Southampton.

The England keeper is on loan at Parkhead until the end of the season.

But after Forster’s heroics against Rangers in Sunday’s Betfred Cup final, Lennon wants to sign him for keeps.

The 31-year-old is paid £90,000 a week with the Premier League strugglers with two and a half years still to run on his contract.

Celts pay a significant percentage of his current salary as things stand — but Lennon is hopeful a deal can be thrashed out to bring the keeper back to the club next season.

He said: “It’s about affordability but that’s something we can talk about.

“I’ll talk to the player but first we have to make the call to Southampton and I’ll need to speak to Peter Lawwell about that.

“Is it beyond us? I don’t know. Would I love to do it? Of course, but we have to be realistic at times and we can’t go overboard either.

“We have to be prudent but we have him right now and it’s fantastic because he’s definitely made us better.”

Lennon signed Forster on a loan deal and there’s NOT a clause in the agreement which would allow Saints to recall the keeper next month.

He added: “If we only have him for a year, we’ll try to enjoy him while he’s here.

“He’s really happy - you can see that in his body language. He had a really difficult 18 months but for him to be back, he is so happy.”

Lennon insists Forster should be back in contention for the England squad and urged Gareth Southgate to give him a recall.

He added: “I think he’s better now than he was before and I certainly think Gareth should have a look at him. He’s been unbelievable. He’s more mature.

“He just wasn’t getting beat on Sunday, just not getting beat.

“He was absolutely remarkable and to do that in the context of a final, speaks volumes for his talent.

“He’s done it in Europe as well against a class side like Lazio, who beat Juventus the other night. It speaks volumes for the performance we put in when we were away and also at home.

“He is definitely in brilliant form and better than first time round.

“So, yes, I think he should be looked at regarding England and yes, we have to see on the other question.”

Lennon will now REST Forster for Thursday’s meaningless game against Cluj in Romania with Craig Gordon set to play.

He added: “What I’ve got now are three top-class goalkeepers.

“It’s difficult for Craig because he’s not done a lot wrong and, to be fair, Scotty Bain hasn’t, either.

“The opportunity to sign Fraser came around and I just thought ‘I can’t miss out on this one’ and, thankfully, it’s turned out to be the right call.

“I’m going to start Craig in Thursday to give him a game and keep him motivated and ticking over.

“It’s very difficult with goalkeepers but it was my call and sometimes you have to make these decisions for what you think is best for the team and the club.”