Forster: It’s a compliment to be linked with Chelsea

Mark Holmes
Fraser Forster: Linked with Chelsea switch

Fraser Forster: Linked with Chelsea switch

Fraser Forster says it is a “compliment” to have been linked with Chelsea and has refused to commit his long-term future to Southampton.

Forster has kept six clean sheets in 15 games since returning from a serious knee injury in January, conceding only 13 goals in total to re-establish himself as one of the most highly-rated goalkeepers in the Premier League.

It has been reported Chelsea could attempt to sign Forster if Thibaut Courtois pushes to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, speculation the England stopper has welcomed.

Forster says his immediate priority is on finishing the season strongly ahead of the European Championship, where he will start as back-up to Joe Hart, but the 28-year-old stopped short of ruling out a summer transfer.

He said: “I think it is a compliment in many ways because if you are being linked with teams then you are obviously doing the right things.

“I have two years left on my contract at Southampton and I have loved my time here. I can’t thank the club enough for the way they have stood by me when I was injured.

“I’m just concentrating on the day-to-day business here at the club and then hopefully I can have a good summer with England.

“Everyone knows that Joe is the No 1 and he deserves that. He is a top keeper but that’s the challenge for the rest of us: to push him as hard as we can and try and put pressure on him.

“That has got to be the goal for me, to keep working as hard as I can and go into the summer in the best possible form.”