Southampton are lining up a move for promising Accrington Stanley goalkeeper Toby Savin, with the Saints thought to be prepared to allow both Angus Gunn and Fraser Forster to leave the club according to The Sun. 

Gunn is currently out on loan with Stoke City for the season, with the keeper having been forced down the pecking order at St Mary’s after he shipped an average of 2.5 goals per game last term in the Premier League (Sofascore). The 24-year-old had to bide his time to get into the Potters’ starting line-up but an injury to Adam Davies brought him into the fold.

The keeper had made four appearances for the Potters before the international break averaging two saves per game and keeping two clean sheets (Sofascore). However, an ankle ligament injury is set to keep him out of action over the next few weeks.

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It has now emerged that Gunn alongside Forster at Southampton could both be moved on from the club in the near future, with the Saints thought to be eyeing up a move for Savin who has been an impressive performer for Accrington so far this campaign having established himself as the club’s number one, per The Sun on Sunday (22/11/2020, p61).

The Verdict

Given Southampton allowed Gunn to leave on loan this season to Stoke it is not overly surprising to see that they could be ready to allow him to leave the club permanently in the next few windows. The 24-year-old, though, had been showing some encouraging signs in his first few appearances for the Potters before his injury.

Stoke could potentially benefit from Southampton’s stance over Gunn and if he comes back to full fitness and continues to impress then Michael O’Neill might well be open to bringing him in permanently. The keeper though will need to show he is worth that by impressing for the Potters.

Savin has shown plenty of potential so far with Accrington and is developing his game very well, but it would be a major ask for the 20-year-old to go straight into the Premier League with the Saints.

It could also be a risk in taking him away from a club he is getting regular first-team football with and putting him onto the bench. However, given his age it would be an exciting addition for the future.