Saints have been linked with a big money move for Manchester City's Angus Gunn, but why would the club want to pay big money given their current goalkeeping situation.

Saints are being touted in the press as being interested in signing Manchester City Goalkeeper Angus Gunn who spent last season on loan at his Father's previous club Norwich City.

At 22 Gunn despite being called up to the England squad last November has never got near a game in the first team for City, nor is he likely too it seems, his only experience being his games in the Championship for Norwich City last season, but it is being suggested that a £15 million deal to St Mary's could be in the offing.

On the face of things this looks to be absurd, only yesterday the club announced that Alex McCarthy had signed a four year deal and of course there is the matter of Fraser Forster, in the goalkeeping department at least Saints seem to be well served by these two who have both shown that they are good enough for the Premier League.

So unless Fraser Forster goes and the issue here might well be his wages meaning that only a loan move could be viable till he has shown he has got his confidence back, then why would Saints want Gunn ?

But more to the point why would Gunn want to come to Saints, at his age he will be looking for first team football or at least the chance of it and that won't happen unless one of our two goalkeepers goes.

This highlights how the media is now saturated with stories put out by agents to stimulate interest in their clients by suggesting that certain Premier League clubs are interested in their clients.

Saints due to their standing over the past five seasons are a club noted for their ability to spot talent and therefore a club that others look to emulate, that image might have been tarnished a little by performances last season, but overall the club is seen as one of the top half clubs in the Premier League, if an agent can give the impression that his client is linked with us, it will make other clubs prick up their ears and perhaps make a bid themselves which in turn will push up the price and indeed the wages of the player concerned.

Social media is a big player in this, it reposts and rehashes stories so that suddenly Angus Gunn a player that few outside of Norwich City and the Championship clubs they played had heard of, now suddenly appears to be one of the hottest goalkeeping prospects in the country.

In turn this leads to supporters griping that their club has failed to sign a player that they actually had no interest in in the first place.

Only time will tell whether Saints actually have been monitoring Gunn, the problem is these days it is virtually impossible to tell where a rumour has started and indeed how much truth is actually in it.

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 12:15 - Jun 28 This shows the effect of the media "snowball" that accompanies rumours about players. More than 20 sites carried the story about Armstrong's arrival, and then followed up with the Tadic story. There may be some truth in this - somewhere - but as you stated it's unlikely we would have three "prospective " England keepers on the books. ...so unless the club has a plan B for Fraser Forster that we don't know about yet ..it could just be someone " shooting the breeze".or his agent trying to stir up some outside interest. If he goes back to City, he won't get much first team activity, and he won't want another season at Norwich if he has pretentions to a club Club and eventual England squad. A very cryptic link though.....

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REEDYREEDOREEDZ added 12:36 - Jun 28 Fraser Forster is one of Southampton's top earners and he's on a long contract. Truth be told he could be finished at the top level. He was dreadful for nearly a year for us. He doesn't even seem to dive anymore, he just collapses slowly to either side. It makes no sense paying all that money for him to warm the bench each week. Saints need to offload him to any club stupid enough to match his wages. Transfer fee doesn't matter, let him go for £5m, just get him off the books. Then signing one of the best young goalkeepers around for £15m makes sense. Gives McCarthy good competition for the number 1 shirt.

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Jesus_02 added 14:54 - Jun 28 @ REEDYREEDOREEDZ I have to agree. Fraser was undoubtedly good on his day and maybe he is still young enough to regain form. I just cant see it happening at Saints. I have no idea about Gunn but some genuine challenge at No 1 is required.
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underweststand added 15:22 - Jun 28 What makes this "rumour " even more dubious is the recent suggestion that Saints are offering a contact extension to U23 keeper Jack Rose. Having watched him in many U23 games, he looks confident and assured and will hopefully turn into a very good keeper- definitely one for the future. Very soon we'll be able to field a whole team of goalkeepers. Is this Mark Hughes secret plan for future success?

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bigrob68 added 15:36 - Jun 28 Sky Sports News understands Southampton are prepared to listen to offers for goalkeeper Fraser Forster this summer. The former England international, who signed a five-year contract last summer, endured a difficult season and has not played for the club since Boxing Day. His team-mate Alex McCarthy signed a new contract at St Mary’s yesterday and Hughes is planning for life without Forster. But Southampton are seeking competition for McCarthy, and have turned their attention to Manchester City goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who spent last season on loan with Norwich in the Championship.

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