Southampton: Burnley make approach to take Forster on-loan
By Marc Walker
Burnley are said to have made an approach to take goalkeeper Fraser Forster on-loan from Premier League rivals Southampton after Nick Pope picked up an injury recently.
According to a report from the Sun, the Clarets have identified the out of favour Southampton shot-stopper as the man to fill the void left by Pope who dislocated his shoulder in his side’s Europa League qualifier against Aberdeen.
Forster is likely to see first-team football opportunities limited at Saints in the 2018/19 campaign with Alex McCarthy considered the clubs number one and young prospect Angus Gunn due to be second-choice.
He lost his place as a regular starter in December and struggled to regain his form after a long-term Patella Tendon injury that kept him out for over a year.
Opposition teams seemed to be able to find weaknesses in his game that were not so visible in his first season at the club, and it appears that he may need a new challenge to try and return to the players he once was.
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Since his £11.25m transfer to Saints from Celtic in 2014, he has made 124 appearances and kept 45 clean sheets in those matches.
The Daily Echo reported earlier this month that Forster was likely to be on his way out of St Mary’s following the £15m purchase of Angus Gunn, and an opening at Turf Moor has potentially come at the just the right time for him.
A loan deal at this point in time will be more achievable as the 30-year-old is believed to be one of Saints’ highest earning players and the club will want to recoup an acceptable fee for him eventually.
Burnley have seemingly struggled to make signings this summer and are yet to add a player to their squad despite having Europa League football to contend with.
Forster therefore could become their first incoming player in this window and they will be hoping that he can contribute towards another successful campaign.