Southampton do not need Bettinelli and should focus January spending on attack

By Sam Preston

Southampton are eyeing up a raid on relegation rivals Fulham for goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, according to the Daily Mail.

The Mail report that the Saints are fearful of losing first choice stopper Alex McCarthy in next month’s transfer window and are monitoring Bettinelli with interest.

Englishman Bettinelli has lost his place in the Fulham starting line up to Sergio Rico and he has got the Saints’ attention not least because he fits the homegrown quota.

But Ralph Hasenhuttl’s interest in the goalkeeper doesn’t make sense; even if he loses McCarthy, talented English stoppers Angus Gunn and Fraser Forster are already at St Mary’s.

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Bettinelli is a talent and Fulham would be foolish to let him leave, but Southampton are well-stocked in the goalkeeping position and should focus their January spending elsewhere.

Hasenhuttl has inherited a shot-shy attack that should be scoring more than it is; but lacks both creativity and ruthlessness in front of goal.

Spending in that area would make more sense than going and getting a fourth English goalkeeper who would perhaps only be fourth choice at St Mary’s.

Gunn is an exceptionally talented goalkeeper, more than capable of taking the reins if McCarthy were to leave – although even that scenario looks a little while off at present.