‘It opens door for Forster & Elyounoussi’- Exclusive: Triple Celtic transfer plan dazzles pundit
Celtic are in the driving seat to negotiate a potential swap deal involving Olivier Ntcham and either of the Southampton loanees, according to Alan Hutton.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, the former Scotland defender suggests the Hoops will ramp up the asking price for the 24-year-old in order to try and pull off a part-exchange as part of a triple transfer plan.
As revealed by Football Insider, the Hoops have placed a £12million asking price on Ntcham’s head as the Premier League side set sights on raiding Parkhead for his capture.
The Hoops currently have Fraser Forster and Mohamed Elyounoussi on loan from St Mary’s and while they will pull out all the stops to sign the shot-stopper permanently, they will only pursue a deal for the winger if Southampton lower their price.
Hutton believes that Ntcham is a valuable bargaining chip to getting one or both loanees to stay at Parkhead and that he is confident a deal can be agreed between the clubs.
Hutton told Football Insider: “It’s a big price tag but I think they’re playing the game well, the obviously know they want a couple of players from Southampton so if they can up the value for Ntcham it might make the deal a little bit easier to get the players they want.
“I understand what they’re doing, clubs always want the highest price for their player and they’ll probably meet somewhere else
“Obviously it opens up the door for Forster and Elyounoussi, they could be part of this deal. There’s a whole host of variables in that deal so it could be a good thing for Celtic and obviously they want to bring players in from Southampton so it could be a good bargaining chip.
“I’m sure some sort of deal could be thrashed out.”
Forster has been the club’s first-choice goalkeeper since rejoining the Bhoys last summer, keeping Craig Gordon and Scott Bain out the starting XI.
Elyounoussi meanwhile has had a mixed campaign at Parkhead, with seven goals in 20 appearances under his belt.
In other Celtic news, Alan Hutton believes a first-team speedster has got a summer move lined up.