Southampton keeper Forster welcomes Chelsea rumours

Matt Stead

Goalkeeper Fraser Forster has welcomed speculation linking him with a move to Chelsea, but is “concentrating” on life at Southampton.

Despite missing the first half of the season through injury, the Saints stopper has been in great form in the Premier League, securing six clean sheets in only 15 appearances since his comeback.

Forster is competing with Joe Hart for a starting role at this summer’s European Championship and will come face-to-face with his England team-mate when Southampton clash with Manchester City on Sunday.

The 28-year-old says he isn’t getting distracted by the transfer rumours and is firmly focused on the rest of the Premier League season.

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.”