Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
News
Southampton: Talks begin for Belgium youngster; Saints pursue back-up for Forster
A reasonably quiet few weeks on the 🦹south coast in the transfer market has been followed by a fresh pursuit of two new players.
Saints’ flawless preseason so far will definitely have fans excited for the season ♛ahead but the demanding calendar of Europa League football may push manager, Claude Puel to add some more depth to his squad.
A goal-scoring winger still seems to ꧂lack amongst the Southampton ranks; a void left by the departure of Sadio Mane.
However, that talks have begun between the Saints and Anderlecht over the signing of young Be♎lgian midfielder, Samuel Bastien.
The 19-year-old spent last season on loan at Serie B side Avellino, where he scored two go🐠als in 31 appearances from centre-midfield.
There had been rumours linking Bastien to Liverpool earlier in the summer but the Saints are now in pole position, but is this a wi🐎se move?
Of꧟ course, £4million is a relatively small figure but with a number of young central midfielders already at Southampton, the focus should be channelled somewhere else.
The likes of James Ward-Prowse, Harrison Reed𒈔 and new summer signing, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg are all at Puel൲’s disposal already.
Although Ward-Prowse and Højb🀅jerg are likely to get ample game time under the new manager, Reed is one that will desperately be hoping to force his way into first team plans.
An abundance of young and experienced midfielders makes it a very strange decision but if Bastien does live up to🦩 the hype that’s being created in Belgium, Southampton may have a steal at £4million.
Meanwhile, that talks have begun between🅘 Southampton and Crystꦿal Palace of the signing of ‘keeper, Alex McCarthy.
Th♑e goalkeeper position has become thin on the ground due to the retirement of club legend Kelvin Davis, and the departure of loanee Maarten Stekelenburg who returned to Fulham before joining💛 ex-Saints manager Ronald Koeman at Everton.
McCarthy has endured a car✤eer of numerous loan spells and now the Saints are aiming to bring the Eagles shot-stopper to St Mary’s to contest the number one spot with England international, Fraser Forster.
ꦚUnfortunately, this doesn’t appear encouraging news for Argentinian ‘keeper Paulo Gazzaniga, despite the fact he signed a new four-year deal in 2015.
Gazzaniga joined the club in 2012 but has been restricted to just 21 🦂appearances and the arrival of McCarthy could force the ‘keeper further down the pecking order.
The 24-year-old has been very inconsistent when called upon to feature in the first team and the arrival of McCarthy could bring the🐻 best out of both Gazzan🐻iga and Forster.
Featured Image: All rights reserved to