Southampton: Saints need to pay up to McCarthy, simple

Just when Southampton supporters thought their summers filled with player dilemmas were over, Alex McCarthy throws a spanner in the works.

The Daily Echo are today reporting that the Saints goalkeeper wants a ‘blockbuster deal’ in order to keep him at the club beyond his current contract.

The Englishman is currently tied down until 2019, meaning he needs to sign a new deal ASAP or the Saints could potentially lose him for nothing next summer. Liverpool, Wolves and Tottenham have all been with linked with the 28-year-old, who’s impressive performances in the second-half of the 2017/18 season kept Southampton up on their own.

As a result, fans have called for the board to offer McCarthy a new contract reflective of his status as first-choice stopper, but if the reports are to be believed it may not be so simple.

McCarthy’s agent may just be trying to get his client a better contract especially after the aforementioned rumours, but if this is a legitimate dilemma the Saints just need to pay up, simple.

Next: Saints linked with free transfer for Tobias Pachonik

In recent seasons the Saints have dug their heels in when it comes to player power, which admittedly is a refreshing change after what happened initially where the club seemed happy to part ways with star talent.

More from Saints Marching

• Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 2: Arrivals
• Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 1: Departures
• It’s time to talk about Gavin Bazunu
• Rain clouds on the horizon? Southampton beat Plymouth Argyle
• A lament for Southampton legend James Ward-Prowse

However there is now a risk of straying too far to the other side and not giving players what they deserve for their efforts – McCarthy needs a new contract to reflect the work that made him the fans’ Player of the Season.

Whilst it’s hard to speculate, as a back-up goalkeeper McCarthy is perhaps one of the lowest paid players now in the starting XI – naturally he’s probably still on five figures a week but newer signings like Hoedt and Lemina are sure to be on bigger pay-packets than the ex-Palace man.

What’s more, it’s become common knowledge that Fraser Forster – now back-up to Macca – is on a fairly lucrative contract having surprisingly been offered another new deal last summer despite signing a fresh deal now too long beforehand.

With McCarthy now first choice ahead of Forster, it’s natural for him to want a contract which represents that switch – even if it’s a case of doubling his wages to around 60-70k a week.

In truth the board may of been surprised if the 28-year-old and his agent have stood their ground with high demands, but there shouldn’t be a dilemma here at all. Keeping the Saints in the Premier League means the club will receive potentially £100 million in television rights, so McCarthy deserves a slice of the pie. It’s up to the board to pay up, or watch him walk away.