Celtic have been handed a boost in their hopes of signing Fraser Forster - with reports claiming Southampton are ready to offload the stopper.

Forster has been linked with a return to Glasgow but the deal looked unlikely due to Saints’ willingness to give the goalkeeper playing time this season.

However the Express are now reporting that Forster is on a list of players set for the axe at St Mary’s.

This could set in motion another twist in the Celtic saga as Neil Lennon could potentially land the player in a significantly cheaper deal.

Lennon has been forced to draw up alternative plans recently and had a £3.2million offer for AEK Athens’ Vasilios Barkas booted out last week.

David Marshall and ex-Man City number one Joe Hart were both also on the Hoops’ radar.