According to Sky Sports, Southampton are ready to offload Alex McCarthy this summer, with Aston Villa seemingly keen on securing his services. The goalkeeper is one of many players, including Fraser Forster, Charlie Austin and Sam Gallagher that are expected to leave St. Mary’s as Ralph Hasenhuttl looks to cut down on wages.
And this could open the door for newly promoted Aston Villa to make a move for McCarthy, who was also linked with a move to Liverpool last month.
McCarthy’s disappointing 2018/19 campaign
McCarthy was always a bit part player at Southampton since joining the club back in 2016. But, the 2018/19 campaign was supposed to be his first season as a top choice keeper for the Saints, and the 29-year-old started the season on a positive note as well, becoming an ever-present figure in goal during the first half of the campaign.
However, the emergence of former Manchester City prodigy Angus Gunn during the second half of the campaign saw the ex-Crystal Palace custodian lose his place in the starting lineup. As a matter of fact, he is yet to make a single league appearance for Southampton since the last week of February.
And it seems unlikely that the 29-year-old will be able to dethrone Gunn anytime soon. Hence, a move away from St. Mary’s could thus be a logical option for McCarthy.
What can McCarthy bring to the table?
One of the main features in McCarthy’s game is his physically imposing 193cm figure that not only makes him a domineering figure inside the box in terms of set-pieces but also helps him cover a considerable area in goal. He also appears quite confident in clearing out the ball with a strong punch, which has become a rare quality for any goalkeeper these days. McCarthy’s shot-stopping ability is also top-notch, with the ‘keeper notably averaging 3.1 saves per game last season.
Should Aston Villa make a move for this colossus?
McCarthy’s conservative style of play and a massive frame could be ideal for an Aston Villa side that are expected to operate with a deep line of defence next season. Furthermore, he has a vast amount of experience in English football that could be useful for a relatively young Villa side next season.
But most importantly, the Southampton star can offer some much-needed competition for Villa’s current crop of goalkeepers including Lovre Kalinic and Orjan Nyland – making him a tailor-made fit for the newly promoted Premier League outfit.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
