Celtic tried to use their Champions League reprieve to convince England goalkeeper Fraser Forster to stay at the club, reports suggest.

Forster joined Southampton on a four-year deal that is believed to have cost the Premier League club in the region of £10m.

But the Daily Record claims that Celtic manager Ronny Deila and chief executive Peter Lawwell met with the 26-year-old on Friday before his trip to St Mary's.

They were said to be hopeful that more Champions League football would be enough to convince the Geordie keeper to stay north off the border, though the presence of England goalkeeping coach Dave Watson at Saints was reportedly the deciding factor for Forster.

Deila now hopes to have the funds from Forster's sale at his disposal before his side face Maribor in the Champions League playoff next week.