Forster spent the last season on loan at Celtic (Getty Images)
According to Hampshire Live, Leeds United legend Noel Whelan has urged the club and Marcelo Bielsa to sign Fraser Forster. He feels that the club need to sign a new goalkeeper if things continued in the same way as Leeds have conceded 8 goals in the last 2 games. A more experienced man was required than Illan Meslier was his opinion.
Forster, 32, came through the ranks of Newcastle United’s youth academy. However, he couldn’t get regular game time with the Magpies and was sent on loan spells. He later joined Celtic, initially on loan in 2010, before making the move permanent a year later.
After four years in Scotland, Forster returned to England, joining Southampton in the summer of 2014. At the St. Mary’s stadium, he established himself as one of the top shot-stoppers in the country and also earned 6 caps for England.
But, having lost his place in recent years, Forster was on the move to Celtic last summer on loan. He once again established himself as the first-choice at Celtic Park.
Currently he is back at St Mary’s and is second choice behind Alex McCarthy, although he is yet to feature in a single game this season.
The Whites have been one of the most eye-catching teams to watch this season. They pushed Liverpool to the end and held Manchester City to a draw. However, two crushing defeats in the last two games have somewhat burst the bubble.
Illan Meslier looks a bit too inexperienced to deal with the level of the Premier League and Kiko Casilla has not been given a look-in. A new shot-stopper could, thus, be a necessity at this point. And, Fraser Forster is an option they should really look into.
The English keeper has plenty of top-flight experience with over 250 games combined in the Scottish and English Premier League. His addition would be a huge solution for Leeds’ defensive woes. A solid shot-stopper, Forster would represent an upgrade on Meslier and can cover for the Frenchman until he reaches a more mature stage of his career.
It would be a good move for Forster too who has fallen down the pecking order at Southampton in the presence of McCarthy and Angus Gunn. McCarthy is likely to continue in goal until Gunn returns from his loan spell.
Forster would again get a chance to start games in the Premier League and at 32, he needs to play on a regular basis instead of sporadic games. Leeds should definitely pursue Forster as he would be a very reliable option for them in goal.
