Gavin Bazunu G Standard Liege (loan from Southampton) b.2002

[Jolly Red Giant]

If they believe that Bazunu is their goalkeeper for the future a loan until January might be what they do, or a loan to the end of the season to cover themselves in case of other injuries while hes recovering, but if they buy a new Keeper it wouldnt look good for Bazunu
I think Bazunu needs some competition to drive his development - he hasn't had that at Southampton since he joined.

[Jd2793]

saints going up isnt great news for baz really is it? injury coupled with poor form this year , they'll definitely looking for a new no.1. hopefully his agent keeps ears to the ground once hes back fit. even a 6 month loan deal back to the championship after he recovers would be good.

[JR89]

saints going up isnt great news for baz really is it? injury coupled with poor form this year , they'll definitely looking for a new no.1. hopefully his agent keeps ears to the ground once hes back fit. even a 6 month loan deal back to the championship after he recovers would be good.

They're still a selling club and Bazunu is an investment they hope makes them a few quid. Think whoever comes in will likely be for one season but the worry is if he's having a good season it's gonna be hard to drop him and fans will want said keeper to remain as number one.

[John83]

It's a risk, but the most likely outcome is they leak goals like a sieve in the Premiership anyway and wind up rotating goalkeepers more out of hope than anything. There's no point worrying about it; he should aim to fully recover from the injury first and then figure things out. He was probably too expensive for them to leave on the bench long term anyway. They'll play him or look to sell.

[Jolly Red Giant]

It's a risk, but the most likely outcome is they leak goals like a sieve in the Premiership anyway and wind up rotating goalkeepers more out of hope than anything. There's no point worrying about it; he should aim to fully recover from the injury first and then figure things out. He was probably too expensive for them to leave on the bench long term anyway. They'll play him or look to sell.
Bazunu will not be fit to play until the new year at the earliest - and unless there is a massive upgrade in the squad and a change in approach from Martin, they will likely be rooted to the bottom of the PL by Christmas, leaking goals all over the place. Indeed - I think it is likely that Martin will be gone by Christmas. I would expect Bazunu back in the team as soon as he is fit - but it will be more like two seasons ago than last season in terms of what happens then. By the way - it is false to say that Bazunu was in poor form last season - overall he played well, in a team that does not defend (which makes the goalkeeper's job very difficult). The problem is that he is stuck in a team that will likely be bouncing between the PL and Championship for the next few years (and if they fail to get promoted any year they will end up as a mid-table Championship team). Bazunu is probably stuck there for another three seasons because of his contract - unless he makes a major step forward and gets a transfer to a PL club.

As I said before - there is a massive and growing gulf between the PL and the Championship and the likelihood is that we will just see a rotation of the promoted clubs getting immediately relegated. Forest were lucky this year and because of the fair play stuff, could get dragged into a relegation battle next season - but at best the three promoted clubs will be in the bottom four.

[Rayzor]

Southampton seem to be looking for a new keeper, been reported they are talking to feyenood about Bijlow and Arsenal about Ramsdale, if either sign they would be going there as the no 1, Bazunu chances of game time after his recovery wouldnt be great..

[Eirambler]

Surprised they left it this long to be honest, always felt there was no way they could go back into the Premier League with Alex McCarthy as their first choice keeper until at least January and not knowing what kind of form Bazunu might come back in after that.

[JR89]

Southampton seem to be looking for a new keeper, been reported they are talking to feyenood about Bijlow and Arsenal about Ramsdale, if either sign they would be going there as the no 1, Bazunu chances of game time after his recovery wouldnt be great..

Bijlow will spend more time in the physio room than he will as number one. If Transfermarkt is correct he's missed a 189 games through injury since the start of the 18/19 season.

[Razors left peg]

Maybe Southampton should sign Kelleher just to really get people fired up on here :D

[Eirambler]

At least then there would be a good chance of one of them playing.

Arguably it's more telling that Southampton are in the market for a keeper late in the window and yet it seems they're not showing any interest in Kelleher.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Southampton seem to be looking for a new keeper, been reported they are talking to feyenood about Bijlow and Arsenal about Ramsdale, if either sign they would be going there as the no 1, Bazunu chances of game time after his recovery wouldnt be great..
They are looking at Ramsdale as a loan deal - but have competition from Wolves - and that would be until Bazunu recovered

Bijlow is a good keeper but I don't think he would automatically be ahead of Bazunu - however, he is very injury prone (only played 17 times last season).

The problem for Bazunu is the type of injury he suffered. It is usually an injury that hits players in their late 20s and 30s - so Bazunu was very young for it to happen. On top of that the Achilles injury is the worst injury that can happen to a goalkeeper in terms of recovery and the possibility of re-injury. It is particularly a problem when jumping for a ball, indeed any goalkeeping situation that requires a spring from your feet. But jumping is a major problem because of the danger of re-injury when landing. Rehab is crucial and coming back even a couple of weeks early can wreck a career. Here is hoping, but this injury could seriously disrupt Bazunu's career.

As an aside - In 2022 Atlanta reserve goalie Dylan Castanheira (age 27) suffered an Achilles injury. Two weeks later their first choice goalkeeper US international Brad Guzan (aged 37) suffered the same injury. Neither were as bad as Bazunu's. In 2018 Claudio Bravo (35 at the time) suffered the same injury and was out for exactly a year. In March 2022 Villa keeper Jed Steer (aged 29) suffered an Achilles rupture - he didn't play for almost two seasons (this time with Peterbrough). In April 2023 Daryl Dike (aged 23), WBA's America forward, damaged his Achilles. He returned in February 2024 and four games in he damaged his Achilles again - he is not expected to return until Feb 2025 at the earliest.

It is a very serious injury.

[JR89]

Arguably it's more telling that Southampton are in the market for a keeper late in the window and yet it seems they're not showing any interest in Kelleher.

Probably because Liverpool don't fancy selling him this summer unless a team pays them £25M.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Maybe Southampton should sign Kelleher just to really get people fired up on here :D
Southampton can't afford the £30m it would cost to sign Kelleher.

If Kelleher does leave Liverpool it will likely be to a pretty big European club. The PL teams that would spend that type of money all already have keepers (with the possible exception of Chelsea and they have spent over £60m on keepers in the last year). Forest would be an outside possibility - because their owner is mad.

[Razors left peg]

Southampton can't afford the £30m it would cost to sign Kelleher.

If Kelleher does leave Liverpool it will likely be to a pretty big European club. The PL teams that would spend that type of money all already have keepers (with the possible exception of Chelsea and they have spent over £60m on keepers in the last year). Forest would be an outside possibility - because their owner is mad.

Mmmmhhmmmm.... and just who are these big European clubs who might be willing to pay 30 Million for a lad in his mid 20s whos played less that a full season worth of football in his entire career?

[Jolly Red Giant]

Mmmmhhmmmm.... and just who are these big European clubs who might be willing to pay 30 Million for a lad in his mid 20s whos played less that a full season worth of football in his entire career?
Juventus were reported to be interested - Szczesny retired and they have sh*te goalkeepers at the moment.

If Liverpool sign Giorgi Mamardashvili - Valencia will need a keeper as well (my brother-in-law who lives there said there are local rumours about Kelleher).

Wolves are supposed to be interested - but they have FFP issues and would probably want a loan.

[Razors left peg]

Juventus were reported to be interested - Szczesny retired and they have sh*te goalkeepers at the moment.

If Liverpool sign Giorgi Mamardashvili - Valencia will need a keeper as well (my brother-in-law who lives there said there are local rumours about Kelleher).

Wolves are supposed to be interested - but they have FFP issues and would probably want a loan.

Id love to believe the Valencia rumors, the Juve rumors have amounted to nothing.... and bringing up Wolves when you said that Southampton cant afford him shows how slim the pickings are.

[Eirambler]

Basically the money they're asking for is bonkers. A player with his age profile and limited appearance record is worth about £10m to £12m.

[elatedscum]

Basically the money they're asking for is bonkers. A player with his age profile and limited appearance record is worth about £10m to £12m.

If they can sell Bobby Clark for £10m + Fabio Carvalho for £20m + Sepp Van Der Berg for £25m, all with a 17.5% sell on clause, then they should be able to get £25-30m for Kelleher

[CraftyToePoke]

If they can sell Bobby Clark for £10m + Fabio Carvalho for £20m + Sepp Van Der Berg for £25m, all with a 17.5% sell on clause, then they should be able to get £25-30m for Kelleher

Don't forget Rhian Brewster to Sheffield United, 23.5 million with 0 first team minutes. Letting on they wanted a 40 million buy back in the deal to get it done. Sheffield Uniteds trousers never came back up.

[Eirambler]

If they can sell Bobby Clark for £10m + Fabio Carvalho for £20m + Sepp Van Der Berg for £25m, all with a 17.5% sell on clause, then they should be able to get £25-30m for Kelleher



Carvalho - 22 years old, 82 career league games
Van den Berg - 22 years old, 120 career league games

Kelleher - 25 years old, 15 career league games.

That's why nobody is paying 20 million plus.

[Rayzor]

Basically the money they're asking for is bonkers. A player with his age profile and limited appearance record is worth about £10m to £12m.

Yea they are suppose to want 12m for Nat Phillips as well, he's a bang average mid championship centre half, probably worh 2 million at most, think Eddie Howe paying crazy money for their reserves while at Bournemouth has warped their view of the value of fringe players worth.

[elatedscum]

In fairness, Howe didn’t do bad getting Dom Solanke for £19m from Liverpool

[Rayzor]

In fairness, Howe didn’t do bad getting Dom Solanke for £19m from Liverpool

Came good in the end but wasn't very good while Howe was manager there and then there's Brad Smith and the 15m he spent on Jordon Ibe.

[elatedscum]

Came good in the end but wasn't very good while Howe was manager there and then there's Brad Smith and the 15m he spent on Jordon Ibe.

took about 18 months to get there but it was always going to be a work in progress for a 22 year old lad who had started 5 premier league games (he was behind Firmino in that Liverpool team). Still buying for £19m and selling for £55m (rising to £65m) is pretty much as good or better than you could possibly hope for.

Ibe's story was really about depression, mental health, suicidal ideation and alcoholism - nothing really to do with ability. The £15m price tag was about right for the player he was then.

And Brad Smith was a £3m punt on a half decent kid, didn't work out but wasn't a huge loss to anyone involved...

[Jolly Red Giant]

Carvalho - 22 years old, 82 career league games
Van den Berg - 22 years old, 120 career league games

Kelleher - 25 years old, 15 career league games.

That's why nobody is paying 20 million plus.
A goalkeeper is not comparable to an outfield player - they have far fewer chance to get into the team and zero chances to be a sub. Kelleher is a very good keeper - but most PL teams have their keepers in place and those that don't can't afford the fee. Same with the European clubs.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Juventus signed Michele Di Gregorio from Monza on loan in May for a fee of €4.5m (with an obligation to buy for €13.5m) - but they must not be happy with what they are seeing. Di Gregorio is a decent but not very good goalkeeper and I suspect that Juve are looking for something more. Now the rumours about them signing Kelleher might be designed to light a fire under Di Gregorio's a*se - but if that is the case it does not bode well if he is not motivated after the move.

[Razors left peg]

Justin Bijlow has failed a medical at Southampton

[Razors left peg]

Southampton now trying to sign Aaron Ramsdale. I think hes a good keeper and dont think its great for Bazunu, especially if its not a loan

[JR89]

Not good news for Bazunu as Southampton signing Ramsdale for £25M.

[joey B]

Well there is obviously now no future for him there ,terrible news for Bazunu ….

[seanfhear]

Lets see how Ramsdale does first.

[Trequartista20]

Slightly surprised at the shock and consternation.

With promotion to the Premier League and Bazunu out for the majority of the season, did anyone seriously expect Southampton not to sign a quality goalkeeper this summer and simply soldier on with 35-year-old Alex McCarthy in goal?

Even if Bazunu hadn't got injured I'd imagine they would have seen that position as somewhere they would want to strengthen.

[JR89]

Slightly surprised at the shock and consternation.

With promotion to the Premier League and Bazunu out for the majority of the season, did anyone seriously expect Southampton not to sign a quality goalkeeper this summer and simply soldier on with 35-year-old Alex McCarthy in goal?

Even if Bazunu hadn't got injured I'd imagine they would have seen that position as somewhere they would want to strengthen.

I'm shocked and consternation that it took them this long to sign a keeper. They knew since April they needed a keeper and they waited till two days before the transfer window closes to sign one.

[liamoo11]

Well there is obviously now no future for him there ,terrible news for Bazunu ….

Transfermsrket says he has a contract until summer 2027 so that is a good thing for him no need to rush his rehab

[seanfhear]

I'm shocked and consternation that it took them this long to sign a keeper. They knew since April they needed a keeper and they waited till two days before the transfer window closes to sign one.Late save !

[John83]

It's a big challenge for Bazunu, sure, and we'd sooner see him nailed on to start (especially with Kelleher still doing far too much bench warming), but let's see what he can do. Ramsdale might move on if they get relegated, Bazunu might move on, or he could even maybe challenge for the starting slot though it's a big ask. The main thing is he fully recovers from his injury first.

[Stuttgart88]

Slighly different take: I think Ramsdale was replaced by Raya at Arsenal because he made some costly errors in the title run in the season before last and also because Raya is trusted more by Arteta as a ball-playing goalkeeper. So if his ball playing skills are (relatively) suspect that might show that Martin is no longer placing such an emphasis on his goalkeeper's ball playing ability, which also doesn't augur well for Bazunu. Bazunu's distribution and ability to play out from the back were valued by Martin.

Ramsdale really made a big impact at Arsenal despite replacing Martinez who himself had made a big impact. In the first half of his season as number 1 he really was an outstanding goalkeeper but his form faded. Throughout though, he was a big personality and had a real confident, exuberant swagger about him which had a big impact on the team. I think this is one huge advantage he has over Bazunu. Whether his goalkeeping turns out to be of the right standard only time will tell. I think he's a good signing for Southampton.

[nigel-harps1954]

I may be one of the few who think this is a great move for Bazunu. He gets better competition for the number one jersey, he gets a better training partner, and all round gets a better kick up the backside to push himself to get better.

[Stuttgart88]

Nigel's missus starts dating Colin Farrell on the side. "Well I think that's a good thing..." :)

[pineapple stu]

It's definitely a bad thing I think. Ramsdale is hardly going there as a number 2 and will have a few months to make his case.

But it's but exactly unexpected either - though Ramsdale is probably higher-profile than we'd have expected they'd get.

Still, worst case, he has to find a new club next summer. Wouldn't be the first keeper in the world who's had to find a new club. I'm sure he can get some tips from his Ireland squad mates...

[Stuttgart88]

There are a lot of good keepers out there. I think the goalkeeping at the Euros was generally excellent and not all those keepers were at big clubs. I was at Fiorentina v Atalanta in April and Atalanta's Italian keeper Carnesecchi was brilliant. Then they played their no.2 keeper at Anfield and in the Europa League final (I presume he had played in Europe all season) and he was also brilliant.

And I think most Championship keepers are very good.

[nigel-harps1954]

Nigel's missus starts dating Colin Farrell on the side. "Well I think that's a good thing..." :)

If he can provide a few quid to support the kids then who am I to argue

[liamoo11]

It's definitely a bad thing I think. Ramsdale is hardly going there as a number 2 and will have a few months to make his case.

But it's but exactly unexpected either - though Ramsdale is probably higher-profile than we'd have expected they'd get.

Still, worst case, he has to find a new club next summer. Wouldn't be the first keeper in the world who's had to find a new club. I'm sure he can get some tips from his Ireland squad mates...

It's an awful fall from grace for Ramsdale. He has been a bag of nerves when he has had chances at arsenal and he is comically bad with his feet.

[ifk101]

I don’t really get the Ramsdale signing. Russell Martin’s Southampton is all about possession football when it is well-known Ramsdale is not the best with the ball at his feet. Understand Southampton need a goalkeeper, and Ramsdale wants to play, but this doesn’t seem a good fit for either party and smacks of panic. While I wouldn’t want two Irish keepers at the same club, Kelleher would have been a better fit for Southampton imo.

But agree with Nigel. The competition can ultimately be good, and if Martin stays in the job and true to his philosophy, don’t think Ramsdale joining Southampton is necessarily curtains for Bazunu.

[Eirambler]

It's a deadline day panic signing. How Southampton let it come to this I don't know. They must have known McCarthy isn't good enough. I don't see them staying up, they might not even be that close to staying up. However, if they do go down, there's no guarantee there will be a queue for Ramsdale's services from other Premier League teams then either, it will depend how his season goes.

Bazunu won't hang around too long if he's not first choice. But this season was always likely to be a write off anyway with the injury - he just needs to focus on getting back fully fit and reassess his club situation next summer.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Bazunu won't hang around too long if he's not first choice. But this season was always likely to be a write off anyway with the injury - he just needs to focus on getting back fully fit and reassess his club situation next summer.
Yes - Bazunu needs to make sure that he is fully healthy after this injury - if he is to have a decent chance to achieve his potential

[Jd2793]

you stay up in the PL when your keeper saves shots. Ramsdales passing might let him down but it wont cost as many goals as poor shotstopping. hopefully this drives bazunu on but its not surprising southampton opted for ramsdale given GB's last 2 seasons

[Eirambler]

They could have the reincarnation of Lev Yashin in goal and I don't think they'd stay up with that squad though.

[Demesne Lad]

They could have the reincarnation of Lev Yashin in goal and I don't think they'd stay up with that squad though.

Lev Yashin! Now there's a 'blast from the past'!

[pineapple stu]

Interestingly, Ramsdale was nominated for the Lev Yashin award last year.