Southampton have already made five signings this summer but Russell Martin is in no mood to slow down in his quest to build a Premier League ready squad.
36-year-old midfielder Adam Lallana was the first to arrive at Southampton this summer, with the veteran returning to the club at which he made his name for free.
Charlie Taylor also joined on a free transfer to add further Premier League experience, whilst central defensive trio Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ronnie Edwards and Nathan Wood make up the rest of the five.
It would seem that Russell Martin is now keen to bring in a new goalkeeper with Gavin Bazunu set to remain sidelined for the first few months of the new season and Brighton’s Jason Steele has been targeted.
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Russell Martin named ‘incredible’ Jason Steele in goalkeeper discussion in January
It was Alex McCarthy who stepped up to take the place of Bazunu when the Irishman injured his achilles in the warm up for a 3-0 win over Preston in April despite the fact it was Joe Lumley who had been named in the match day squad.
Martin opted to bring in the more experienced goalkeeper in from the cold even though Lumley spending had spent the season as the back-up in a move that shocked everyone associated with Southampton.
However, it was a move that bore fruit, with McCarthy keeping the shirt until the end of the season and playing a key role in the play-off triumph.
Those displays have been rewarded with a new contract, but that has not stopped Southampton eyeing up a move for Steele and Martin’s comments from earlier this year show why.
Speaking on Lumley’s performance in an FA Cup win over Walsall in early January, Martin told the Daily Echo: “He was amazing.
“His footwork is why [goalkeeper coach] Dean Thornton was so keen on bringing him here. Joe hasn’t had a chance to show what he can do because he hasn’t played for teams with that style.”
The Saints boss then name-checked Steele as an example of a goalkeeper who has shown how distribution can elevate a ‘keeper, saying: “If you look at Jason Steele at Brighton, nobody would have thought he could do what he does, but he is incredible.
“Then (Roberto) De Zerbi turns up and he is number one because of what he can do with the ball at his feet.”
Alex McCarthy footwork means he cannot be Southampton number one
Given how well he deputised for Bazunu last season it made sense to secure McCarthy’s new deal and prevent him leaving the club for free this summer.
You could argue McCarthy is a better goalkeeper than Bazunu in the traditional sense, however he is not immune to mistakes of his own.
The difference comes in the distribution.
Bazunu’s biggest strength is his confidence with the ball at his feet and he is crucial to how Southampton build up in Martin’s possession-based style.
McCarthy struggles in this area. This was evident in the play-offs, as Southampton used their goalkeeper much less as a passing option and played a little more direct at times to negate McCarthy’s shortcomings.
Martin does not want to play like that long-term, though, and therefore it makes sense to sign a goalkeeper who is adept with his feet this summer.
In Steele, Southampton would not just be signing a goalkeeper who is capable of playing out, but one who is arguably better than Bazunu whilst being a more reliable shot-stopper.