Southampton have renewed their interest in Sunderland's out of favour goalkeeper, Anthony Patterson.
According to Sun reporter, Jack Rosser, the Saints are pursuing a loan move for the 25-year-old who has come through the academy ranks at the Weirside club.
The Southampton board may have finally run out of patience with Gavin Bazunu whose best attribute is his distribution with the ball at his feet.
Bazunu is in the bottom 8% of keepers on this key stat
According to Fotmob.com, Bazunu is in the bottom 7.7% in terms of goals conceded that he really should have saved. In simple terms, he has cost his team -4 goals from open play. That doesn't include the mistake that he made at Queens Park Rangers which resulted in a goal for Rumarn Burrell.
The Saints front three have largely helped keep the focus off the Ireland international's mistakes with their free scoring antics under Tonda Eckert.
In contrast, Anthony Patterson cost Sunderland -1.5 goals from open play during Sunderland's promotion winning season in the Championship and earned the Black Cats +4.06 goals the season before.
Patterson's greatest assets compared with other keepers in the Championship have consistently been his ability to claim high balls from crosses and his long ball accuracy.
Sunderland are said not to be keen about a loan move and would prefer to command a transfer fee for the well respected shot stopper.
Another way to structure the deal is possible
Valued in the region of £8 million, with a current weekly wage of £20,000, a permanent deal could be acceptable to Sport Republic who will no doubt be eyeing up an immediate return to the Premier League this season.
Should Patterson make the switch to St Mary's, swapping one set of red and white stripes for another, the move could oil the wheels for the permanent sale of Aaron Ramsdale. Ramsdale is valued at around £25 million and his wages are in excess of £100,000 per week.
The purchase of Anthony Patterson might force Tonda Eckert into a rethink of the playing out from the back tactic which he has employed recently. While Gavin Bazunu might be content to deal with the ball at his feet under pressure, that may not be Patterson's idea of fun!
Doing nothing about the goalkeeping situation is not an option for Johannes Spors and Southampton do not have the luxury of time to bring through a youngster with potential. Parachute payments stop after two years following relegation, meaning that promotion back to the Premier League within 18 months has become imperative.