Fraser Forster rediscovered his confidence and form over the last year and in doing so won his place back as first choice keeper at St Mary's, a call up to the England squad and now it seems a new contract with Southampton.
Rumours around the Saints goalkeeping spot have flown around over the course of this season with some sources claiming that firstly Alex McCarthy was close to signing a new deal back in September and also that it had been signed but the club had held back on announcing it, similar rumours also surfaced regarding Jack Stephens.
A year ago Ralph Hasenhuttl had intimated that he would have to choose between either Forster or McCarthy as his back up keeper next season, between them they are said to be on about £140k a week with Forster taking up the lions share on £90k.
But now it seems that he may have made his mind up if media reports are to be believed.
Journalist Tom Barclay, a man that has a lot to say about Southampton transfer rumours had this to say commenting on Forster's future at St Mary's
"Last I checked a couple of weeks ago, they were starting to look at things in the next couple of weeks, so I guess (talks will begin) around now.”
A little sketchy, but it does perhaps indicate that Alex McCarthy is truly out of favour with Ralph Hasenhuttl after starting this season as his first choice, in truth McCarthy was in the main never really convincing in the games he played at the start of the season and was under fire after letting in soft goals against Norwich & Leicester City culminating in the events surrounding the home game against Brighton.
The Austrian was publicly scathing about McCarthy's professionalism in what was the keeper's last appearance for the club, when he failed to tell the bench that he was injured and it resulted in a late injury time equaliser for Brighton.
That injury has kept the keeper out for the last four months and in that time Forster has excelled and even Willy Caballero who came in as an out of contract signing would seem to be above McCarthy in the pecking order.
So it could be that Alex McCarthy has played his last game for the club and will be released at the end of his contract in July with Forster the man who will be offered a new deal.
This will be on a lot less that the £90 k he is reportably on at the moment, a more likely figure being around £30k a week, a saving of around £3 million off the Saints wage bill and when added to McCarthy's £50k a week, that frees up a lot of cash for the wages of any new signings.
If Forster does stay then the big question will be whether it will be as Saints number 1 or as back up, ideally the club would land one of their rumoured targets, Sam Johnstone of West Brom said to be the main focus with Dean Henderson of Manchester United another target.
But Forster's form this season takes the pressure off the club, although they would ideally sign one of their targets, Forster's form this season has meant that potentially he could be first choice next season should the club not land who they consider to be the long term keeper going forward, although this would not be a long term fix, it does buy us time and would mean that we would not need to panic buy a first choice.