Aston Villa are on the lookout for a goalkeeper, and have identified Alex McCarthy as a potential option, according to reports.
The Villans were linked with Stoke City’s Jack Butland, and Cardiff City’s Neil Etheridge. However, Express & Star claim that Dean Smith’s side have also put McCarthy on their radar.
Aston Villa have had a pretty solid summer so far, and need to shore up the goalkeeping department before the season begins in August.
Alex McCarthy: Profile
McCarthy spent his youth career at Wimbledon, Wycombe Wanderers, and Reading, before representing the likes of Reading, Leeds United, Queens Park Rangers, Crystal Palace and Southampton.
The 29-year old started the previous campaign as the first-choice shot-stopper for Southampton. However, he lost his place to Angus Gunn, who was signed from Norwich City last summer for a fee in excess of £10million, midway through the season.
In 25 appearances in the Premier League last season, McCarthy made 78 saves and mustered 4 clean sheets. Overall, he has managed 66 outings in the English top-flight and is one of the most underrated goalkeepers in the division.
Are Southampton ready to sell him?
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have made some notable signings in the transfer window, having brought in Che Adams, Danny Ings and Moussa Djenepo.
Hasenhuttl is eager to reduce the club’s wage bill, and McCarthy might be allowed to leave. The English international has no dearth of admirers and Smith needs to act quickly.
Will McCarthy be a good signing for Aston Villa?
Aston Villa have not had the luxury of having a top custodian for years now. Fingers have been pointed at the quality offered by Lovre Kalinic, Jed Steer and Orjan Nyland regularly and this is an area Smith needs to address.
McCarthy, with his Premier League experience and knowhow, could be a pretty shrewd addition to the club.
The 29-year-old is good with his reflexes, and has the ability to command the backline. He is also at an age where goalkeepers tend to start peaking, so he won’t be a short term buy either and will help Villa in the long run.
McCarthy played a key role towards the fag end of the 2017-18 season for the Saints as they left it late and retained their top-flight status. When the going gets tough, he can come up with crucial saves.
Statistics Credits: premierleague.com
