The media are suggesting some transfer movement in the Saints goalkeeping dept, however perhaps it will not be bad news for Saints supporters with a big name linked to come to St Mary's.

The media are for obvious reasons linking Alex McCarthy with a move to Liverpool, due to the awful goalkeeping display in the Champions League Final and also because the Anfield club already have a monthly direct debit to Saints.

But if they are serious about signing the keeper who at Xmas had never played a Premier League game for Saints then they will have competition from other top flight clubs.

The Mirror is suggesting that Spurs will be one of those calling, Michael Vorm is out of contract and seeking a regular first team spot elsewhere and Spurs want McCarthy as back up to Hugo Lloris.

But neither rumour looks to have much chance of progressing, Liverpool need to be signing a keeper of international quality and with a proven track record at the top level, that profile is not McCarthy who at 28 has only 41 Premier League appearances to his name including his 18 for Saints this season.

It would be a big gamble for Liverpool to take on a keeper who is relatively untried and until the last five months had pretty much spent the last four seasons as a back up. The Anfield club cannot afford to make the wrong signing in this area.

The Tottenham connection does not seem to be a move that would excite McCarthy, at his age he needs first team football, Vorm was highly rated when Spurs signed him from Swansea four years ago, but he has stagnated at the club, in that time he has managed only 9 Premier League starts and now as he approaches 35 he has spent what should have been his prime on Spurs bench, McCarthy will surely not want to head the same way.

But the big news is that if McCarthy does go then it could be Joe Hart replace him, Hart has just changed his agent and is now represented by Pitch Agency, coincidentally the same firm that represent Saints, that could make any likely move a lot smoother than it would likely be, however this is the strongest reason for Hart moving to St Mary's, it is enough for the press to make a story out of it, perhaps inspired by Pitch Agency themselves.

But would Hart himself be a good fir for Saints, at 31 he is in his prime years as a goalkeeper, he has a reputation to rebuild and he seems the type of person who would want to do that and put his career over money.

Personally I would think that Liverpool would be more likely to go for Hart than they would McCarthy, it is a question of balancing the unknown in the Saints man against the tried and trusted but low on confidence in Hart.

Perhaps both Liverpool who are also represented by Pitch and Saints will need to do some thinking and balance up the risks.

Photo: Action Images

Sanguin added 09:59 - May 30 He had a terrible season and Saints fans aren’t forgiving, but I don’t think we should rule out Forster making a comeback.
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ChristchurchSaint added 11:17 - May 30 NO! NO! NO! Hart would not be a good fit! Offer McCarthy something approaching Forster’s salary and assure him that he will be first choice. Surely that, rather than sat on the bench elsewhere is more attractive to him! Also make Forster available for transfer at a lower fee, in order to get him off the books.
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schatfield added 12:56 - May 30 I think the whole Liverpool thing is the press adding 1 plus 1 and making 7 - they know pool are in the hunt for world class keeper, McCarthy is good but not world class good, and has only been playing properly for 6 months anyway! Be good to offload Forsters wages and get in a lower league goalie as back up. Hart deal would never happen.
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bstokesaint added 13:14 - May 30 Why even take the risk on Forster? He was massively culpable for our near relegation. On reflection I wouldn't mind Hart for competition but prefer McCarthy.
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pintsizedsaint added 13:36 - May 30 The press link between Liverpool and McCarthy was made before the Champions League final. However, it does smack of being a classic rouse by McCarthy's agent to try and ensure SFC negotiate well with any potential contract renewal. Alex has a year left on his contract and i wouldn't be surprised if this is his agent trying established techniques here to bring to the table. That may be further suspected when Liverpool made it clear (post final) that they were looking at other, more established GK options. (You also cannot rule out that LFC are keen to ensure they are distancing themselves from yet another summer of tapping up SFC players). And then - lo and behold - the press are making out as if Spurs are now interested in him. I'm no further in the know than anybody else on this, but you can't rule out that this is all agent talk - or simply the lazy gutter press taking SFC's 'player of the season' and running with that familiar summer headline.

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SaintNick added 16:05 - May 30 Im amazed that so many people here and on social media have decided that McCarthy is suddenly a world class keeper and worthy of a massive salary based on only 18 Premier League games, a fair chunk of which most people werent there to see, we truly have some football experts supporting this club lol ;-)
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ChristchurchSaint added 16:57 - May 30 Nick, it’s not a case of McCarthy being world class or even worthy of a huge salary. Les Reed gave a huge salary plus long contract to a keeper who has rarely been “world class”. Forster has had good spells, but his general goalkeeping skills are currently not as good as McCarthy’s. His command of his area and his general awareness are not in keeping with somebody who has aspirations to get back into the national squad.

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BoondockSaint added 18:07 - May 30 Don't Spuds have Gazzaniga on the books? The one game I saw him play for them this year he was quite good. So unless he is looking to move for first team action, Spuds are set even if Vorm moves on. As for the scouse, their Klown of a manager has been in the press for over a month saying they wanted a world class keeper, basically undermining Karius' confidence. One pundit I saw (as I relished Real's win on YouTube) made a good point that Karius was rushing his moves, not concentrating on the task at hand because he was under orders from his manager to immediately get rid of the ball to get the attack going as fast as possible. I think he will learn from his mistakes, but at another club. Not one of his teammates consoled the kid......but why should we be surprised at that? Absolutely no class. While I'm sure Les was on the phone immediately after the final whistle, offering McCathy but the scouse need to sign a big name for big money in order to perpetuate their "we're a giant in the football world" image. So McCarthy will know he would only get second team action( and wages) there. I am not a fan of Hart, and bringing him in would be telling McCarthy he is not good enough. Let's spend money on play makers and strikers.

1

bstokesaint added 12:22 - May 31 I didn't see anyone say McCarthy was world class Nick, but you should at least try and keep your player of the season. I think we all saw enough in the games he did play versus what Forster didn't do in the games he did play in.
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heroholmes1 added 15:08 - May 31 I think having a goalkeeper that has the confidence to come for a cross and has the athleticism to to stop a real goal scoring chance gives you a chance of winning a game. Forster, unfortunately did neither of these things in recent times. Why don’t you remove the comments section Nick if you only want to exaggerate what others say and condescend them
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underweststand added 17:12 - May 31 Not many years ago the majority of Prem.clubs had (at least) TWO international keepers on their books (!). Forster 's " England chances " came when there was no "regular " No.1 ..and now the situation is even worse. The Prem lost Foster, and Butland to the Championship ...and neither Hart or Forster could get a game by the end of the season, and we may well see Pickford in goal for England at the World Cup (!). McCarthy showed he has what it takes after taking over from FF. and I hope he stays. BUT to have an expensive keeper on the bench for another season is bad for the player ..and the club. Let Forster move on ..but be sure we get a reliable back-up with international experience, but (for my money ) ..NOT Hart. He may have been good at one time, but a string of bad results would make his life a misery, and give the fans another scapegoat.

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