Southampton are open to letting goalkeeper Alex McCarthy leave before September’s transfer deadline with a number of Premier League clubs keen on the long-serving Saint, as reported by The Athletic.
There is a trend these days for signing experienced, homegrown shot-stoppers and using them as reliable back-ups options.
Manchester United signed Tom Heaton in 2021. Aston Villa and Brentford snapped up Robin Olsen and Jonas Lossl, respectively, while Nottingham Forest offered 38-year-old Wayne Hennessey another stab in the top-flight following Burnley’s relegation.
Joel Robles, formerly of Everton, should become as a Leeds United player sooner rather than later too.
Whether McCarthy is destined to fulfil such a role, however, remains to be seen. The Athletic say that there are Premier League clubs interested in the one-time England international. And Southampton are open to offers, despite there being three years remaining on McCarthy’s contract.
Which clubs need to sign Alex McCarthy from Southampton
But the one-time Reading ‘stopper still has plenty left in the tank. Turning 33 in December, he is a still a relative whippersnapper in goalkeeping terms.
What sort of offer would lure him away from St Mary’s. Would McCarthy accept a back-seat role, a la Heaton or Olsen? Or would he prefer to play regular first-team football? He’s already lost his place under Ralph Hasenhuttl to new £12 million signing Gavin Bazunu after all.
McCarthy, one of Southampton’s highest earners on £50,000-a-week (Spotrac), watched on from the bench during Saturday’s 4-1 opening day defeat to a rampant, Dejan Kulusevski-inspired Tottenham Hotspur.
And Southampton know that they can afford to let McCarthy go and still be content with their goalkeeping options. Willy Caballero is still a Saints player, after all. And that’s without mentioning summer arrival Mateusz Lis.
The Athletic do not name the Premier League suitors allegedly chasing McCarthy’s signature. Leeds wanted an experienced glovesman to provide competition for Ilan Meslier before turning to Joel. Leicester City remain in the market, however, having lost Kasper Schmeichel to Nice.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, meanwhile, feel like a more-than suitable destination. Wolves are yet to replace John Ruddy but McCarthy would be a more than adequate successor.
“Fantastic. When you see his goalkeeping now compared to one year ago…” Hasenhuttl beamed back in 2020, hailing McCarthy’s ability to adapt to a more front-foot approach.
Turns out you can teach old dogs new tricks after all.
“We have stats on how high he plays now and how calm he is on the ball; How good his decision making is with the ball.”
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