Southampton’s decision to loan Gavin Bazunu to a Championship rival feels like a mistake. It is one that weakens Southampton while strengthening a club they are directly competing with for promotion.
Prior to Saints' 4-0 defeat at the Riverside, Bazunu had turned in two excellent performances. He was awarded the man of the match by Sky TV for his performance away at Birmingham City. In that match, his save to deny Jay Stansfield was probably the difference between Saints coming away with a point or coming away with nothing.
Then at home to Millwall, Bazunu saved from point-blank range to deny Thierno Ballo a certain goal.
Loaning a player just as he was stabilising feels counterproductive, especially when the alternative was patience rather than panic. Saints were finally seeing a version of Bazunu that resembled a long-term option rather than a liability.
Southampton hand Stoke City a ready made solution
There is also the question of who benefits most from this move. Stoke City were facing a problem after losing Viktor Johansson. A problem that could have lingered. Instead, Southampton handed them a ready-made solution.
In a league as tight as the Championship, that feels naïve. Rivals should be encouraged to struggle. Providing them with a goalkeeper of Bazunu’s quality only narrows the margins that Saints can ill afford to give away.
Should Stoke City string together a run of results with Bazunu between the sticks, that could be the difference between a play-off spot and another season in the Championship.
Southampton are not short of options in goal since Daniel Peretz's loan arrival from Bayern Munich. Saints stalwart Alex McCarthy and their young loanee, George Long, will offer ample competition to the German in Bazunu's absence.
Peretz even marked his debut at Doncaster with a great double save in the dying moments to preserve his side's slender lead and help them through to the fourth round.
Saints could learn from a previous loan error
The idea that a loan elsewhere guarantees development is also questionable. Bazunu’s spell at Standard Liège was meant to offer growth. It delivered frustration, limited continuity, and an injury that stalled his momentum.
Liège fans were unimpressed by the Republic of Ireland international who conceded 12 goals in just six matches and kept only one clean sheet before getting injured.
There is a pattern here. Loans that promise clarity often introduce risk, especially for goalkeepers who rely on rhythm and trust more than most positions.
Southampton would have been better served by keeping Bazunu as cover or seeking a permanent move outside the division. Strengthening rivals while weakening your own squad surely cannot end well.
Some fans might argue that sending Bazunu out on loan to Stoke might have the opposite effect and weaken The Potters. There are plenty of the St Mary's faithful who will no doubt be glad to see the back of Bazunu and couldn't care less where he has ended up. His stats have highlighted some obvious weaknesses that seem beyond rectifying.