Southampton: Leeds United fail with bid for Fraser Forster
By Marc Walker
Leeds United reportedly failed with a bid to take Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster to Elland Road before turning their attention to other targets.
According to a report from the Daily Mail, the Yorkshire club looked at signing Forster and recent Southampton signing Angus Gunn in their pursuit for a keeper this summer.
Another target included Birmingham City shot-stopper David Stockdale before they eventually agreed a loan deal to take Chelsea’s Jamal Blackman on a season-long loan.
With Forster’s wages and Saints wanting to recoup a large amount of the fee they paid for the 30-year-old if they sell, a loan deal away from St Mary’s is most likely this summer.
He signed a new five-year deal during last summer which is believed to have made him one of the club’s highest earning players in an otherwise strict wage structure.
Next: Should Saints really aspire to be like West Ham?
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
Leeds and fellow Championship club Norwich City were said to be chasing Angus Gunn before he completed his £10m transfer to the South Coast from Manchester City.
Forster’s poor form saw him drop out the Saints side under Mauricio Pellegrino and he has struggled to get game-time after some outstanding displays from Alex McCarthy.
The Daily Echo has said that Saints are keen to shift the England international out in this transfer window but also want the best deal for the player himself after his service to the club.
Following his £10m move from Celtic to the Premier League in 2014, he has put in some match-winning displays and pulled off memorable saves.
However, his struggle to regain this form seemed to be a direct consequence of a serious Patellar Tendon injury that kept him out for a year. A lack of confidence and mistakes littered his performances on return.
Forster has six caps for England but has slipped down the list of keepers available to Gareth Southgate. Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland, Nick Pope, Tom Heaton and Joe Hart are all ahead of him in the pecking order currently.