Fraser Forster is likely to leave Southampton on a free transfer next summer, with Alex McCarthy now close to signing a new, three-year contract, according to the Daily Mail.
The Saints are poised to finalise a new deal for McCarthy after the goalkeeper beat Forster for the role.
His current £50k-a-week deal is due to expire next June, like Forster’s £70k-a/w terms, but is set to stay.
They had battled to be Ralph Hasenhuttl’s number one over the second-half of last season, but McCarthy is now undisputed.
He has started all 11 of their Premier League fixtures so far this term, and kept five clean sheets. Only Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy and Manchester City’s Ederson have more with six.
McCarthy’s new deal will see Southampton release Fraser at the end of his contract next summer. While the £10m arrival from Celtic’s exit will see the Saints target a new option.
The south coast natives are monitoring Sam Johnstone’s situation at West Brom alongside West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Daily Mail also reported the Baggies are resigned to losing the England shot-stopper on a free transfer. But may cash in for £10m in January, with his contract also expiring in June.
Should Southampton release Forster, with McCarthy signing a new contract?
Southampton may be loath to keep both Forster and McCarthy past their current contracts.
While McCarthy is a mainstay of Hasenhuttl’s Premier League side, Forster has only played in the Carabao Cup. A role hardly befitting of the Saints’ second-highest wage, per Spotrac.
Hasenhuttl has also seen progress in McCarthy, to view the £2m arrival form Crystal Palace as his number one.
“He was fantastic,” the Austrian said, via the Daily Echo last year. “When you see his goalkeeping now compared to one year ago, 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.”
So, with McCarthy staying, Southampton will likely look to sell Forster in a January transfer to avoid his free exit.
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