Neil Lennon on potential Celtic recruitment activity, former icon returning to Parkhead floated

Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon has been discussing the direction Brendan Rodgers could take his side’s recruitment in the summer transfer window.

Rodgers will have several priorities in the market, including his search for a new number one goalkeeper at Parkhead amid Joe Hart’s impending retirement.

Southampton stopper Alex McCarthy has become the latest name in a long list of reported targets, with Queens Park Rangers veteran Asmir Begovic, Motherwell’s Liam Kelly and Sunderland talent Anthony Patterson mentioned in the conversation.

According to reports in Turkey, Celtic have made an offer worth around £6.4 million for Trabzonspor goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir; however, it remains to be seen whether there is any truth to growing speculation.

Nantes, Roma and Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli are also keen on the 28-year-old, and the latter is believed to have made a proposal worth £8.6 million for his services.

Now, Lennon has gave his verdict on a transfer suggestion floated that could offer Celtic some familiarity and experience between the sticks.

Neil Lennon on Celtic summer recruitment and Fraser Forster

Speaking on PLZ Soccer, former Celtic manager Lennon gave a broad overview of where Rodgers could bolster the ranks this summer, claiming there may be mass reinforcements across several different positions.

Intriguingly, he also reacted to a transfer suggestion floated by Peter Martin, who opined that Tottenham Hotspur stopper Fraser Forster could potentially be available to complete an emotional return to Parkhead.

He stated: “It’s interesting for Celtic, you touched on Matt O’Riley as well, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t have suitors, so Joe is leaving, Matt is (potentially) leaving, they were the two probably most consistent players this season.

“Celtic have a bit to do as well on that account, they definitely need to look at a really top number-one. That’s where you build your best teams from, I know from my own time, Fraser Forster (was a) precious commodity.”

Host Peter Martin then interjected, stating the former England international may be ‘available’ for a move from the North Londoners.

Lennon continued: “He might be. I don’t know if he’d come back a third time or not. We’ll see. It’d be interesting. I think they need another centre-half because he obviously doesn’t have faith in the other two, Nawrocki or Lagerbielke.

“Left-back, you need competition there, so right through the team again, your replacement for Matt, are they going to get another striker in? They’ve got plenty of wingers but the best one is still James Forrest.

“There are a couple of talented ones bubbling under there; we haven’t seen any of Holm this year, we haven’t seen enough of Kuhn or Yang to sort of say yes they’re here for the long-term, but they don’t want to be relying on the same players year in, year out.”

Celtic fans have fond memories of Fraser Forster

At 36 years old, Forster has one year remaining on his contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which could open the door for his current employers to try and cash in on him this summer.

Celtic fans share some amazing memories with the former Southampton man, who kept 118 clean sheets in 234 appearances for the club [Transfermarkt].

His incredible performances against Barcelona that earned him the nickname ‘La Gran Muralla’ (The Great Wall), alongside the heroics he produced against Rangers in the Scottish League Cup final circa 2019, have given him iconic status in Glasgow’s east end.

With his career now entering its twilight phase, could the prospect of a dramatic return to Celtic tempt Forster north of the border? It is too soon to say, but it would be an extraordinary story.