Southampton are in the hunt to sign Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper claims that the Saints are preparing themselves for the potential exit of Alex McCarthy with him attracting attention from a number of their Premier League rivals.
It is understood that there is uncertainty surrounding Bettinelli’s future at Craven Cottage after he lost his number one status, even though he was included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad in September.
Good move for Southampton?
Even if McCarthy goes, Southampton have two better options than Bettinelli in Angus Gunn and Fraser Forster, so it would be a complete waste of money to sign the 26-year-old from Fulham.
The 6ft 4 (transfermarkt) colossus is not even the number one goalkeeper for the team with the worst defence in the Premier League, so what does that say about his quality?
In his seven Premier League appearances this season, Bettinelli conceded 20 goals, which is one more than Wolves have as a whole in their first 17 games back in the top-flight.
It would be an awful, awful signing to make in January and simply unwarranted.
This is Futbol rating 1/10
Likely to happen?
Hopefully this was a move that was on the cards when Mark Hughes was still at St Mary’s and Ralph Hasenhuttl will soon pull the plug on any interest in the Fulham ‘keeper.
There is no point in signing him but then again, going by Southampton’s track record in recent years, it would not be a shock for them to sign Bettinelli.
It all seems to depend on if McCarthy moves on though and at the moment, there is no suggestion that he will leave.
This is Futbol rating 3/10