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

[JR89]

Certainly a better shot-stopper than McCarthy, so absolutely no reason why he wouldn't be No 1 from the off.

Talk that Southampton are looking for a young no.2 who can challenge for the no.1 jersey so might not go straight in as no.1.

Hopefully it works out for him because Southampton are rank, and will need more than just a keeper if they're to avoid getting sucked into a relegation battle. Only finished 5pts ahead of Burnley in the table and had the fourth most goals conceded.

[Stuttgart88]

Forster has gone to Spurs now I think so it'd be McCarthy he'll need to displace. Definitely capable of that.

[Diggs246]

Forster has gone to Spurs now I think so it'd be McCarthy he'll need to displace. Definitely capable of that.

100%
Southampton do not spend 10 mill on a sub

[seanfhear]

100%
Southampton do not spend 10 mill on a sub
Maybe a Submarine ! !

[elatedscum]

100%
Southampton do not spend 10 mill on a sub

I know what you're saying but they'll sign fringy players like Adam Armstrong and Djenepro for £15m

As for keepers, I present you Angus Gunn. Bought by Southampton from Man City for £13.5m aged 22, back in 2018. Played 22 premier league games across 3 seasons (with a loan to Stoke in towards the end) before being sold to Norwich for £5m last summer, where he was second choice to Tim Krul and played 9 games.

After signing for Southampton, Alex McCarthy started the season in goal, winning man of the match of the first game of the season. Gunn eventually made his premier league debut in January but didn't keep the place for long.

It's entirely possible they're envisioning Bazunu being second choice for a season or two before taking over as first choice. £10m is very cheap for a first choice premier league keeper and it's possible they feel they've found someone who can play the position in the future and are acting quickly now, while he's still cheap

[pineapple stu]

I think it's ten mill with add-ons isn't it?

So if he sits on the bench, then it'd be much less.

Burnley spent the same on Collins and then didn't play him for the first half of the season.

But in general, can't be a bad move at all

[Demesne Lad]

I had hoped Bazunu would have a season as a first choice in the Championship. Preston NE (not too far from Manchester) were definitely interested, but couldn't afford to buy him. Had he been playing weekly in the Championship during the past season, he would have faced Mitrovic (43 goals), Solanke (29), Brereton-Diaz, Piroe and Weimann (22 each). Better for his development than as a no. 2 hoping for a good cup run.

[Razors left peg]

Southampton are not signing him to be #2. Bazunu I would expect has had assurances that he will be 1st choice and it'll be up to him to keep his spot.

[yurt]

I don't think Bazunu would be going anywhere if he didn't see himself as at least getting a fair chance at being the first choice. Hopefully this is the first a many seasons of him playing 30+ EPL games.

Could do wonders to the Irish premier league minutes played stats which have been getting progressively grimmer over the seasons.

[Colbert Report]

Not too many twenty year olds start in the Premier League, but let's hope for the best. I'd much rather see him on loan playing every week in the Championship or League 1 than on the bench at Southampton. Could be a great move for him if it goes through and he gets to play. His ball distribution is something else, a real pleasure to watch.

I think Nathan Collins went for £12m from Stoke to Burnley last summer, not £10m, but I'm not 100% sure.

[elatedscum]

My guess is that he’s going there to initially be 2nd choice, but I think he’s definitely a better keeper than McCarthy and will win his place by January either way

[CSAD]

My guess is that he’s going there to initially be 2nd choice, but I think he’s definitely a better keeper than McCarthy and will win his place by January either way

Lol

No, Bazunu is not going to Southampton to be McCarthy’s back up.

[elatedscum]

Lol

No, Bazunu is not going to Southampton to be McCarthy’s back up.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10897113/Southampton-make-bid-worth-10m-20-year-old-Manchester-City-goalkeeper-Gavin-Bazunu.html

"Southampton wanted to sign a young goalkeeper initially as a No 2 but also capable of challenging for the No 1 spot and believe Bazunu is one option who fits the bill."

[Stuttgart88]

Luckily the Mail's back pages are more reliable than its front pages.

[tommy_c12000]

I love this move if it comes to fruition. He has a top class attitude and is destined to success, he has incredible talent but more importantly he clearly has a terrific attitude and resilience.

He has already made several mistakes (and has learned from them) and has come back stronger and has continued to improve, the natural development of an excellent young keeper. With his international experience, he certainly is ready for premier league football IMO. Alex McCarthy is an underwhelming opponent for the number 1 position. Exciting move if it happens.

[liamoo11]

I love this move if it comes to fruition. He has a top class attitude and is destined to success, he has incredible talent but more importantly he clearly has a terrific attitude and resilience.

He has already made several mistakes (and has learned from them) and has come back stronger and has continued to improve, the natural development of an excellent young keeper. With his international experience, he certainly is ready for premier league football IMO. Alex McCarthy is an underwhelming opponent for the number 1 position. Exciting move if it happens.

It's very disappointing city are prepared to let him go for 10 million and that there are not other uk or European clubs willing to compete with Southampton and push-up that price. Are some of those bad handling and bad kicking blunders putting off clubs? What is tge reason clubs are not knocking down city's door for a 20 year old keeper who is 20?

[nigel-harps1954]

It's very disappointing city are prepared to let him go for 10 million and that there are not other uk or European clubs willing to compete with Southampton and push-up that price. Are some of those bad handling and bad kicking blunders putting off clubs? What is tge reason clubs are not knocking down city's door for a 20 year old keeper who is 20?

By some accounts, the fee is only £10m because City are inserting a buy back clause.

[tommy_c12000]

I guess we can wait until there is actually something official, right now we only have rumors…

[seanfhear]

Bazunu will surely get his chance to take the Number 1 spot if he is good enough.

[SkStu]

It's very disappointing city are prepared to let him go for 10 million and that there are not other uk or European clubs willing to compete with Southampton and push-up that price. Are some of those bad handling and bad kicking blunders putting off clubs? What is tge reason clubs are not knocking down city's door for a 20 year old keeper who is 20?

Maybe they’re looking for a 20 year old keeper who is 19.

[pineapple stu]

Was it Nii Lamptey who was the highly-rated 20-year-old who turned out to almost certainly be a few years older?

[liamoo11]

Maybe they’re looking for a 20 year old keeper who is 19.

That could be it

[CSAD]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10897113/Southampton-make-bid-worth-10m-20-year-old-Manchester-City-goalkeeper-Gavin-Bazunu.html

"Southampton wanted to sign a young goalkeeper initially as a No 2 but also capable of challenging for the No 1 spot and believe Bazunu is one option who fits the bill."

There a difference between a young player and someone like Bazunu, if this is the case Bazunu might aswell stay at City…

[Olé Olé]

There a difference between a young player and someone like Bazunu, if this is the case Bazunu might aswell stay at City…

Why? He wouldn't be challenging for number 1 at City. That is just the plain fact of the matter. He'd be number 2. At Southampton, the gap or perceived gap would be narrower. Bazunu can back himself all day to overtake McCarthy. For now, not even the most biased Ireland supporter should think he will overtake Ederson in the short or medium term - even accounting for the odd error by Ederson.

[Olé Olé]

Wonder what City are going to pencil into the buyback option... 10m feels a little low. Whilst he has had a mixed season and a great season at League One level, he's very young and has been excellent in a lot of international games. His ceiling is very high. And even if he never got near the ceiling, he will still be a very good keeper. Southampton paid City 13.5m for Angus Gunn, for example. Gunn is English though...

I've said it so many times about him but the beauty of Bazunu is that his attitude and mentality and maturity are unwavering and he's 20. You can't teach that really, can you? So combine that with the talent and, now, the experience, and 10m is such a safe outlay.

[Trequartista20]

With Forster (19 league starts last season) having left, that leaves Southampton with the unconvincing Alex McCarthy (17 starts) and Harry Lewis (Never started a league game) as their only senior goalkeepers. 40-year-old Willie Cabellero (2 starts) has also been offered a new contract.

So it seems reasonably clear that Bazunu would have an excellent chance of establishing himself as number one were he to join the Saints.

At this point in his career, though, I see no reason why he would be in any huge rush to leave City permanently. A well-considered loan move would perhaps be his best option.

[seanfhear]

With Forster (19 league starts last season) having left, that leaves Southampton with the unconvincing Alex McCarthy (17 starts) and Harry Lewis (Never started a league game) as their only senior goalkeepers. 40-year-old Willie Cabellero (2 starts) has also been offered a new contract.

So it seems reasonably clear that Bazunu would have an excellent chance of establishing himself as number one were he to join the Saints.

At this point in his career, though, I see no reason why he would be in any huge rush to leave City permanently. A well-considered loan move would perhaps be his best option.
Opportunity knocks on those goalkeeper appearance figures.

[elatedscum]

10m seems very low to me. He has 2 years left on his deal at city which isn’t a huge amount of time, which probably knocks a few mil off the final price - but they could obviously renew and send him out on loan to the championship if they weren’t selling.

I get that the buy back clause is worth something but I don’t see why they wouldn’t prefer to sell for 15m with a 20-25m buy back if they could get it, rather than say 10m with a 15-20m buy back clause.

From Bazunu’s perspective, he’s got the choice of moving to Southampton and challenging for a jersey and hopefully breaking into the team sooner rather than later and hopefully keeping the jersey, as good as he is, he will make bad errors over 38 games and the premier league is far less forgiving than league 1 would be. Or he plays a season in the championship on loan and assesses his options in a year’s time. Might end up being about contracts - like for example, city only offering him a loan if he signs a new contract at X per week, or if he’s willing to move to Southampton permanently

[sbgawa]

Buybacks kill the initial value. Its like huying a 33 year old who has no onward transfer value. Southampton would know they are paying for a player and taking a 10m risk (if that's the number) with limited upside if he works out. Without a buyback he would be worth a lot more as if they butba 20 yearbold league 1 player and he plays well in the Premier he is an instant transfer target for big clubs at a potential massive profit. Think. Van dyk signed from celtic for 12m (I think) and sold to Liverpool for 80÷ (again from memory) As a rovers fan I'm thrilled for him if it happens and also for the club between the initial fee plus add ons plus the sell on we will have banked best part of 3m

[Eirambler]

Buyback is £40m apparently, so Southampton look like they're doing well out of this deal either way.

[JR89]

10m seems very low to me. He has 2 years left on his deal at city which isn’t a huge amount of time, which probably knocks a few mil off the final price - but they could obviously renew and send him out on loan to the championship if they weren’t selling.

I get that the buy back clause is worth something but I don’t see why they wouldn’t prefer to sell for 15m with a 20-25m buy back if they could get it, rather than say 10m with a 15-20m buy back clause.

From Bazunu’s perspective, he’s got the choice of moving to Southampton and challenging for a jersey and hopefully breaking into the team sooner rather than later and hopefully keeping the jersey, as good as he is, he will make bad errors over 38 games and the premier league is far less forgiving than league 1 would be. Or he plays a season in the championship on loan and assesses his options in a year’s time. Might end up being about contracts - like for example, city only offering him a loan if he signs a new contract at X per week, or if he’s willing to move to Southampton permanently

Alex Crook says Bazunu supposedly turned down a new long term 45k a week contract.

[sbgawa]

Buyback is £40m apparently, so Southampton look like they're doing well out of this deal either way.

Good deal for City IMO. if Bazunu takes the jersey and is a proven success the £85m Chelsea paid for their young keeper who has not impressed subsequently will look cheap.
Although £40m is more than i thought it would be

[Eirambler]

That would mean City paying £30m net to get their own player back. It says to me that they don't think they'll be signing him again and its more of a "just on the off chance" clause.

[CSAD]

That would mean City paying £30m net to get their own player back. It says to me that they don't think they'll be signing him again and its more of a "just on the off chance" clause.

Except this is City and Southampton know it’s City so 25-30M isn’t much to them. It’s probably to ensure they aren’t paying 85M for him if he turns out to be as great as we have hoped.

[elatedscum]

Kinda seems weird to me. Would have imagined they could have done 15m, 45m for example or 18m/48m

If I was a club needing a first choice keeper, I’d happily pay 20m for Bazunu and at 50m, there’s nothing plenty of profit to made if he’s bought back. Maybe the market just isn’t really there.

Said the same thing about Collins last season when burnley bought him for 13m, that he was very cheap and I’d be prepared to drop £20m on him if I was a club in the market for a centre half

[seanfhear]

Kinda seems weird to me. Would have imagined they could have done 15m, 45m for example or 18m/48m

If I was a club needing a first choice keeper, I’d happily pay 20m for Bazunu and at 50m, there’s nothing plenty of profit to made if he’s bought back. Maybe the market just isn’t really there.

Said the same thing about Collins last season when burnley bought him for 13m, that he was very cheap and I’d be prepared to drop £20m on him if I was a club in the market for a centre half
As of yet, the premiership clubs that would surely have been looking at Collins in action last season don’t seem to have made their minds up about him yet. Time will tell I suppose.

[WexCar.]

What are the limitations on buy back clause? Does it last as long as he is at the new club or only valid during the first contract? Or is it only valid for a set number of years?

[Jd2793]

done deal , great move for him.

[elatedscum]

What are the limitations on buy back clause? Does it last as long as he is at the new club or only valid during the first contract? Or is it only valid for a set number of years?

often with these type contacts, city would have an option both after the 2nd and 3rd season to buy him back. Considering he’s so young, the contact might be longer and there could be an option after a 4th season if he signed a 5 or 6 year deal

[Diggs246]

Is been awhile since we have had a starting premier league keeper in nets for us!

[Exgrad]

Has there even been a premier league club that executed a buy back clause?

[joey B]

https://www.the42.ie/gavin-bazunu-southampton-5791587-Jun2022/

Deal worth up to 18.5 million euros with add ons,hopefully he can kick on now and he’s able to establish himself as a good premier league keeper,the goalkeeping position for Ireland would be his then in my opinion….

[ontheotherhand]

That would mean City paying £30m net to get their own player back. It says to me that they don't think they'll be signing him again and its more of a "just on the off chance" clause.

They were happy to offer him 10m+ over the next 4-5 years in wages. Instead they've been given 16m for him to get first team experience at premier league level without risk of losing him on a free and having to buy him back for more than 30m.

Ultimately 30m is nothing to city and would be an absolute bargain if he reaches his potential either way. Still a lot of work for him to do there though. It's a good move all round. Hopefully Kelleher gets one soon as well and we have 3 players playing at the top level.

[Razors left peg]

With Southampton's record of developing young players I couldnt think of a better move for him. Having him and Travers as 1st choice premiership goalkeepers is fantastic.

If Bazunu thrives like I think he will he will have his choice of any club anywhere in 2 years regardless of whether there is a buyback clause or not.

[JR89]

Best of luck to him. Takes balls to turn down a long term contract to go out and back your ability to establish yourself as first choice somewhere else when the safer option would have been sign the contract and go out on loan. He'll need all the luck he can get at Southampton though because they were awful last season and will be there or there about in next season's relegation battle.

[elatedscum]

Has there even been a premier league club that executed a buy back clause?

Was Matic a buy-back when he re-signed for Chelsea?

I think Liverpool have had them in place for the likes of Solanke, Brewster, Ibe and Brad Smith but never activated any of them, although Brewster is still active this summer and next but can't see it happening since they sold him for initially for £24m and he's scored 4 goals in 46 games since then.

[ontheotherhand]

Hats off to the lad as well. 45k a week would have be fairly life changing. He still has to work on his composure with the ball at his feet and his decision making but he has such a good head on his shoulders I wouldn't be shocked to see him come on a few more levels in the next year. It's scary how good he might be. He'll make plenty of mistakes along the way but it's going to be exciting watching him.

[Razors left peg]

Hats off to the lad as well. 45k a week would have be fairly life changing. He still has to work on his composure with the ball at his feet and his decision making but he has such a good head on his shoulders I wouldn't be shocked to see him come on a few more levels in the next year. It's scary how good he might be. He'll make plenty of mistakes along the way but it's going to be exciting watching him.

He still may be making $45K at Southampton

[JR89]

Was Matic a buy-back when he re-signed for Chelsea?

I think Liverpool have had them in place for the likes of Solanke, Brewster, Ibe and Brad Smith but never activated any of them, although Brewster is still active this summer and next but can't see it happening since they sold him for initially for £24m and he's scored 4 goals in 46 games since then.

They had a buy back clause for £37m but bought him for £22m three years after selling him.

[ontheotherhand]

He still may be making $45K at Southampton

Hope so! He needs to keep up his Rovers season ticket.