"One to watch..." - Journalist hints 161-game star could be set for Southampton exit

Fraser Forster is likelier to leave Southampton than stay at the club this summer, according to The Sun journalist Tom Barclay.

The 34-year-old has played every minute in the Premier League since Christmas, but he’s out of contract at the end of the season and could therefore end his eight-year stay on the South Coast.

With Forster’s deal expiring this summer, there’s been constant uncertainty surrounding his future at St Mary’s Stadium.

Having hardly featured in the 18 months after he returned from his loan deal with Celtic post-lockdown, the shotstopper appeared to be heading towards the exit door.

However, an injury to Alex McCarthy before Christmas has allowed Forster to come back into the side and give Ralph Hasenhuttl a timely-reminder of his capabilities.

Since returning to the XI for the Boxing Day victory at West Ham, he has played 18 matches on the bounce, to take his overall tally for the Saints to 161, with his form leading to an England recall for the recent friendlies with Switzerland and Ivory Coast.

Forster wouldn’t make a first international appearance for six years, but it highlighted his recent form between the sticks.

Regardless, the Telegraph believe that Southampton are expected to axe Forster this summer and keep Alex McCarthy on their books.

McCarthy is also out of contract this summer, but Barclay understands there is an agreement in place for him to stay, even though nothing has been officially announced.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “The fact that McCarthy has extended his deal and the way that Southampton like to do things in terms of developing younger players, that’s counting against him.

“If McCarthy hadn’t signed a new deal, it could be Forster being the one with a new deal and McCarthy trying to