Southampton are stepping up their efforts to replace goalkeeper Alex McCarthy with a move for a stopper Arsenal are considering to replace Aaron Ramsdale.
Russell Martin‘s goalkeeper situation at Southampton is a complicated one.
Gavin Bazunu was the undisputed number one last season prior to injuring his Achilles in the warm up of a 3-0 win over Preston in April.
Alex McCarthy came in from the cold to deputise at the business end of the season and was solid as Southampton won the play-offs to earn a new contract.
Concerns regarding McCarthy’s distribution in Martin’s possession-based style have been raised all summer before those worries came to fruition with a howler gifting Newcastle the only goal of the game as the Saints suffered a 1-0 loss at the weekend.
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Southampton set to move for Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow
Aside from McCarthy and the injured Bazunu, Southampton also have Joe Lumley and Mateusz Lis as senior ‘keepers at the club.
However, neither are deemed capable of taking the number one spot and this appears to have led Saints to spring to action in the transfer market to resolve a problem position.
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That is according to Southampton journalist Alfie House, who posted on X: “Haven’t heard that an offer has gone in for Justin Bijlow but Saints are tracking options in England and abroad so no surprise if he’s on list.
“Appears well-tested with the ball at first glance. Shot-stopping good. Always my hope one goalie would leave to make room.”
In a follow up post, House added that a deal could hinge on Lis leaving, saying: “Very much of interest. Would be chuffed to get this done, Mateusz Lis exit opens the door as alluded to. Fingers crossed.”
Arsenal could swoop for Bijlow to replace Southampton target Aaron Ramsdale
Billow is not the only goalkeeper Southampton have considered this summer, with Brighton’s Jason Steele and Arsenal back-up Aaron Ramsdale both explored.
- READ MORE: Southampton given hope in pursuit of late Aaron Ramsdale deal but there’s now one new problem
Interestingly, Arsenal are one of the clubs who have also been named as monitoring Bijlow’s situation as The Athletic have reported that Netherlands goalkeeper is ‘on Arsenal’s list of potential Aaron Ramsdale replacements’.
This leaves Southampton in a strange transfer triangle where they could sign Ramsdale and see Bijlow go to Arsenal as his replacement.
However, the Saints look as though they now want to cut out the middle man and go directly to Feyenoord for Bijlow as a deal for Ramsdale looks difficult amid interest from Wolves.