There is a lot of media speculation that Saints are going to launch a summer bid for England goalkeeper Joe Hart, but how much truth is in that rumour and how likely is it to happen ?

Contrary to the opinions of a section of the Saints support Fraser Forster is a very well rated goalkeeper by some of the top Premier League clubs and this has led the press to start speculation that Saints might be looking to offload Forster and bring in Joe Hart as his replacement.

The reality is that if Forster was to leave it would be for a top six side or perhaps Everton, given that Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea & Spurs would feel that they already have better keepers in place than Forster, that would leave only Liverpool. Manchester City and Everton as in the frame to buy the Saints keeper.

The likelihood is that Hart has no future at City, so that leaves only a move to Merseyside as a viable possible option for Forster if he was to leave St Mary's.

If we take Liverpool first, they definitely need a new keeper despite what Klopp may say, Mignolet is a weak link and they need to shore it up, however would they choose Forster above Hart ?

I would say the answer is no, Hart is still rated above Forster in the England pecking order and a move to Liverpool would almost certainly appeal to him ahead of a move to St Mary's, so the chances of Saints signing Hart rest on whether Liverpool make a move for him.

Everton could well launch a bid of their own for Hart, although given the Koeman connections it is far more likely they will go for Forster as it would be easier to persuade him to join the Toffee's, they have the money and assuming that our former manager hasn't jumped ship for a second summer running I expect them to come a calling.

So the more likely scenario is that Liverpool land Hart and we face Everton trying to unsettle Forster.

The big question though is whether Saints want to let him go, certainly there are those very vocal on social media who would be delighted to see him go, the same people who this time last year were hounding Sadio Mane out before he was sold for £35 million.

Saints might not feel the same way, but if they did they would have to decide whether they go for a proven Premier League keeper or whether Alex McCarthy who is highly rated or even Mouez Hassen would be up to the job.

So it looks like being one big transfer merry go round in the summer, that is if Saints decide they want to get on it.

Unlike previous summers Saints are now in control of their own transfer destiny they have all the squad tied up with long term contracts and are under no pressure to sell, unlike previous years when they have had players entering the last two years of their deal and indicating they would not sign another.

This meant that Saints were not in the driving seat, they had to sell or see the players value plummet in the last year of their contract.

Now though it is different, Saints can start to plan going forward, they know that the system means that we have to sell players, the reality is that we cannot compete with the top six on income received, so we have to do it on our terms, but now we are in control.

Most transfer rumours at this time though are agents trying to stir things up and the media trying to generate headlines where they have none.

Photo: Action Images

arthurfane added 10:29 - Mar 13 Anyone who doesn't see Hart as an upgrade on Forster is absolutely bonkers I think. Forster's form has deteriorated worryingly this season, while Hart has been impressive on loan at Torino. Don't think it's realistic we'll sign him because, as you correctly note, the same clubs who would be interested in Forster would take Hart above him surely. I'd love Fraser to rediscover his imperious best, but he's cost us many more points than he's saved us this season sadly. League cup final as an example - we would've won if Hart had replaced Forster between the sticks. Would love to see Hassen given a go as he looks like he has real promise!

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nysaint added 10:49 - Mar 13 I think Fraser has suffered since the injury.. he doesnt launch same way.. its something to do with that injury or his nervousness.. maybe they can work on it.. or maybe it is time for a reeplacement... btw the Ibra goal at wembley was largely a foul.. they impeded davis from jumping by leaning on him just prior to the kick so he couldnt junp in time.. training ground tactic and a foul IMO.. I would go for Pickford from sunderland

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SanMarco added 11:13 - Mar 13 Sadly the reason people are criticising FF's performances are because they have been poor since he came back from injury. If he gets back to his best why change him, if he doesn't then we must change him. I would go for Pickford or for the Burnley bloke above Hart. I imagine that the usual suspects mentioned in the article will also be sniffing in those directions. Anyone else find it interesting that the Barca job is going to come up just as RK's three year contract with us would have been up? It would explain a lot about his behaviour last summer if he was on a promise from Barca. We will of course laugh at Everton until we see VVD on a plane to the Camp Nou...

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arthurfane added 11:24 - Mar 13 To be fair, the second half of last season after injury, he was imperious. Perhaps it was to do with our magnificent central defence, or Wanyama/Romeu battering ram, but he pulled off some smart saves and looked back to his best. This season is a whole different story . . .
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SonicBoom added 12:53 - Mar 13 Nick you really need to get over this hang up you have about Mane. Footballers get stick when they aren't playing well. Sometimes the stick is OTT but strong players come through it. Mane did. Pelle did. Forster has been poor this year and gives me kittens everytime a ball is swung into the box. If there are any players near him he stays rooted to his line and this costs us more than once. I don't know if this is confidence or what but it seems a basic for a keeper. His kicking is also less assured - perhaps his injury is still on his mind. We would of course keep the player of last season - but if we get a good fee I imagine the Forster of this year won't be seen as such a big loss. But anyone who thinks we will lose Forster and get Hart are nuts.

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TeamCortese added 13:10 - Mar 13 IMO FF has been a good signing overall. However, and it pains me to say this, this season he hasn’t been at the races. We are no longer a club satisfied escaping relegation. Even we no longer consider a top 15 finish satisfying. We are among the best of the rest outside of the Top 6. For the last couple of seasons we have won that title (finishing 7th-6th respectively). This season we’re likely to lose it to Everton and possibly West Brom. With such standards we cannot allow any passengers in our first team. Unfortunately FF has been one them this season. If we can get £15-20 million for him we would take it. It’s in his interest to get back on track for his career and also for the club to move on. I think the keepers we should be targeting are Butland and Pickford. Butland might be a bit of a risk due to his injury. But for me I’ve always rated him better than Hart or Forster. Pickford is a bit rough around the edges but looks really promising for the future. If Sunderland get relegated we should really prioritise buying him.

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Jesus_02 added 14:55 - Mar 13 This would probably be the least saints like purchase since Kevin Keegan! But yes he would be a good signing he would provide genuine competition for the No1 slot as would FF. Our recent problem is that we have seemed content to but a whole host of keepers not as good as FF. How many have we got now? (wages must be staking up)
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SaintBrock added 18:07 - Mar 13 Anyone who sees Hart as an upgrade on Forster is absolutely bonkers, I think. This is the most stupid idea that's ever been floated around the press rooms and on fansites, why would a club that has one of the best goalkeepers in the world be interested in selling him for no reason at all and buying a guy who's track record is far from impeccable and is arguably no better than the person he would replace. What a complete and utter waste of the club's money when we have far more pressing needs than worrying about a goalie who is going through a lean spell. Bloody hell, BackWards-P(r)ass has been going through a lean spell all season and who's been on his back amongst our more discerning vocal fans? Give Forster a break and get off his case! Not aimed at you Nick by the way.

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IanRC added 21:31 - Mar 13 Can't understand the stick JWP takes. Had another good game at Watford, including a superb turn and pass in the second goal build up.
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arthurfane added 10:09 - Mar 14 Nice first line there Brock - I guess it was directed at me. Hart is a much better Goalkeeper than Forster in general, not this season alone, but how much longer can this 'lean spell' go on? It's not just his lack of command in the box, it's his worryingly low save % and his incredibly poor distribution that instils a nervousness in the back four (support for this in an excellent article on FootballFanCast which says Hart's claim success is 95% compared to 85% - for a 6'7" goalkeeper, go figure . . and Hart's distribution success is 71% compared to 51% from Forster). As I said above, Forster was a hero last season for us, and I'd love him to rediscover that form and confidence, but he's just not at the races at the moment and (although it's not going to happen) a club like ours would have pulled of an enormous coup signing a goalkeeper of the class and pedigree of Hart. That said, while I slate him on here, I'm fully in support of him at games - booing and ironic cheering is NOT the way to improve the form of a goalkeeper bereft of confidence. JWP - what a rubbish analogy. He is a player who has serially under-contributed and drifted through games, but as IanRC correctly points out he was good against Watford, and in other recent games too. He is really starting to show the potential we all know he has somewhere deep inside, and for that he's rightfully started to get praise. Think fans on this board (myself included) gave him stick when it was deserved, and have now started cheering his much improved performances. Come on Saints - would love a win at White Hart Lane. Can't remember what it's like at St. Mary's it's been so long though haha.

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