Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy is attracting interest from Crystal Palace and Everton, following his move to Luton Town breaking down.
According to the Evening Standard, McCarthy held initial talks with Luton Town over a move but the Hatters could not afford his demands, with the 33-year-old said to be on £50,000 a week. This had led them to move for Tim Krul of Norwich.
That change of thinking has paved the way for Crystal Palace and Everton to move in for the former England international. Palace want a new no.2 (after Vicente Guaita allegedly refused to play for Palace this season) so would like McCarthy to return to the club as his replacement, while Everton would like more competition for Jordan Pickford and Joao Virginia, with the Toffees said to be interested for a while.
Should Alex McCarthy leave Southampton?
Alex McCarthy has been at Southampton since the summer of 2016, joining from Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee. He has gone on to make 124 appearances to date for the Saints.
Gavin Bazunu has been preferred in goal by manager Russell Martin so far this season, and with the recent signing of Joe Lumley, McCarthy is not as required as he was a few weeks ago.
With Palace and Everton both needing another goalkeeper, and Southampton having the chance to get one of their high earning players off the books, this is a move that seems to make sense for all parties.
He may join the long list of players departing the south coast club this summer, with James Ward-Prowse leaving for West Ham United yesterday afternoon.