Southampton are starting to climb the table under new boss Tonda Eckert, who has won six out of his first eight games in charge of the senior side.
Now, a focus on the January transfer window will start for the 32-year-old manager, working with Southampton Sporting Director Johannes Spors in recruiting for promotion back to the Premier League.
Plenty of business needs to be done, but it is clear to Southampton fans where one of the main issues lies – in goal.
Over the last three seasons, the Saints have had three different starting goalkeepers.
The signing of Aaron Ramsdale looked like a turning of the corner, but relegation meant a return to the old guard of Bazunu and McCarthy, who weren’t then replaced in the pre-season 2024/25.
The manager who brought Saints into the season, Will Still, chose to start the Irishman Bazunu.
But after just a few weeks, veteran McCarthy was brought back in after various Bazunu mistakes.
Now under Tonda Eckert, Bazunu has been brought back in, mainly for his distribution from the back.
Gavin Bazunu 2025/26 So Far:
| Games Played | 14 |
| Shots Faced | 50 |
| Goals Prevented | -4.02 |
| xGOT Faced | 15.58 |
| Goals Conceded | 20 |
This isn’t an outlying season, Bazunu reached similar figures in 2023/24 too.
Gavin Bazunu 2023/24:
| Games Played | 41 |
| Shots Faced | 145 |
| Goals Prevented | -11.52 |
| xGOT Faced | 42.48 |
| Goals Conceded | 54 |
Various goalkeeper links for Southampton have already come out in recent weeks, and there is certainly no smoke without fire.
Johannes Spors: “We won’t be big spenders in January for two reasons. The club is not in a position to let us be big spenders, and we don’t need it.
“In the winter, we work on bits and pieces here and there, but we want to give stability to the group.”
The club may not have the funds to sign a new keeper permanently, especially with two senior keepers already on the books.
But a loan signing could be key in launching a promotion bid under Eckert.
Anthony Patterson
The young goalkeeper, who started in Sunderland’s rise to the Premier League, is now backup to Robin Roefs at the Stadium of Light.
A promising prospect, Patterson will want to get playing again, could Southampton be the place?
Mads Hermansen
A star player despite Leicester’s relegation from the Premier League last season, Hermansen has already been dropped by West Ham after a big money move.
The Dane will want to find some form again, and the Championship could be a good place to do so.
Jason Steele
A solid option, Brighton’s backup keeper, Jason Steele, who has already been linked to the Saints a few times in the last couple of years, could be another interesting but cheap signing.
Who should the Saints look at bringing in?
