Report: Celtic risk missing out on David Marshall as Championship club pounce

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Celtic are set to lose out to Stoke City in the race to land experienced goalkeeper David Marshall, according to The Scottish Sun.

The Championship outfit are hoping to take advantage of Wigan’s financial plight and made an offer for the custodian last week.

Celtic are keen on the goalkeeper though and might need to act swiftly or risk missing out.

Fraser Forster was the club’s number one stopper during 2019/20 but the Southampton man doesn’t want to return on loan.

The 32-year-old wants his next move out of St Mary’s to be a permanent one but that doesn’t suit Celtic.

A former England international, Forster earns £90,000-a-week with the Saints and that would blow Celtic’s wage structure to pieces.

Marshall played 28 times for Celtic at the start of his career but moved to England where he has spent time with Norwich, Cardiff and Hull before joining Wigan.

If he did opt to join Celtic, it would seem likely that Neil Lennon would try and pursue another stopper too.

Marshall is now 35 and although he has proved a capable pair of hands throughout his career, competition would be ideal.

The man with 33 Scotland caps has been Wigan’s first-choice during 2019/20.

Last week, however, the club fell into administration and might now look to quickly offload players.

Celtic will be on the hunt for title number 10 in succession next season and Lennon will hope his squad is well stocked.

For Marshall, surely the lure of European football and a return to his homeland would prove more attractive than a move to Stoke.

The Potters are still fighting relegation and could still be playing in League One next season.