Liverpool warned they’ll need ‘very deep pockets’ to sign 27-year-old international

The January transfer window is open and managers are working hard on strengthening their squads and identifying targets for the summer so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest rumours. Today, Liverpool are warned over James Forrest…

Former Wales striker John Hartson has warned Liverpool they will need to have ‘very deep pockets’ if they want to sign Celtic winger James Forrest this summer.

Forrest came through the youth ranks at Celtic Park having joined his boyhood club as a child and he’s developed in to a key player for the Glasgow Giants since breaking in to the first team set-up back in 2010.

The 27-year-old winger has chipped in with 11 goals and 17 assists in his 34 appearances in all competitions so far this season while he’s also been a regular in the Scotland squad with 5 goals in his 26 caps.

His impressive form in Scotland has caught the attention of clubs south of the border with the Scottish Sun reporting earlier this week that Liverpool are tracking Forrest ahead of a potential summer swoop.

The newspaper said Jurgen Klopp has identified the winger as a potential summer signing as he looks to further strengthen his attacking options at Anfield and suggested an £8m deal could be on the cards.

Hartson has now blasted that valuation as ‘laughable’ as he believes Forrest is an established player who’s performed on the international and European stage for club and country.

The former Celtic striker went on to say that Liverpool would meed to have ‘very deep pockets’ if they want to sign Forrest as they’d need to triple the £8m offer to £24m just to get Celtic’s attention.

Writing in his column for the Evening Times, Hartson said:

“I have to say that I laughed when I saw the figures quoted for James Forrest this weekend,”

“£8million? That might get you his big toe. Aside from the fact that the lad himself has signed a long-term deal with Celtic, the club he has been with since primary school, the money quoted for him is laughable.

“We are not talking about a pup at 16 or 17. We are talking about a boy who has scored goals at international and Champions League level and who has blossomed into a winger who guarantees double-figure goals.

“So spare me the £8m chat. If – and it is a big if – there was anyone looking at Forrest then they would need to triple that number just to get Celtic interested.

“The days of English clubs coming in and getting players for pennies are long gone. If Liverpool or anyone else want him then they will have to have very deep pockets.”

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will be prepared to pay anywhere near £24m for Forrest but Hartson is right when he says the player should be worth a lot more than £8m considering some of the fees that are being paid these days.

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Forrest is one of the best players in Scotland and he’d be a solid squad player who’d offer good back-up for the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane if Liverpool did end up getting a deal agreed for the Scottish international.