Tell Celtic to poke their £1.5 million!

So Celtic have apparently bid £1.5 million for the services of Fraser Forster as they bid to take the loanee to Parkhead on a permanent basis.

Have they? Haven't they? Who knows. I certainly don't, although I wouldn't be surprised if Celtic were interested in our goalkeeper after he impressed for them last season by keeping 24 clean sheets in 44 appearances in league and cup matches for Neil Lennon's side.

Personally I'd like to keep him, but I can also see him leaving. Much like Tim Krul, Forster is at the age where he will want to start making regular first-team appearances. With Tim Krul looking likely to be the one who takes over from Steve Harper it leaves Forster in a difficult position.

What is an acceptable offer though? Is £1.5 million really enough for a lad that has the rest of his career in front of him and is highly rated? I don't think it's enough, but I also don't think it's that far off.

I'd take no less than £3 million for Forster in all honesty. It's not bank breaking but it's a bit more respectable than a derisory offer that values him in the same bracket as James Perch. Unfortunately, Forster has no Premier League experience so I feel that our bargaining hand is weakened by that fact.

There is still pre-season to come and I have a feeling that it's only then that we'll know where we stand on the goalkeeping front. Forster may come back and prove a point and take the No1 spot, although I fell that is unlikely. Shame really, with me and him being Hexham lads and all...

It's canny how we've managed to be so well stocked in our goalkeeping department. For years now it's been a position which we haven't really had to worry about and we've always been covered in one way or another. In fact we were lucky that Steve Harper has been happy playing second fiddle/has no ambition* and has been with us for so long.

* Delete as appropriate.

Unfortunately though I don't think any of our 'keepers will be willing to sit around for years while the other get their moments, and if that is the case then one of them will go. If it's Forster, and if it's to Celtic, then fair enough, but not for £1.5 million.

Come back with a serious offer Bhoys!