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Reports in The Mirror earlier this week suggested that Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl could bring forgotten goalkeeper Fraser Forster back in from the wilderness, but when asked whether he could be in contention for the Premier League fixture against Leicester City this weekend it was clear that the Austrian sees no future at St Mary’s for the 6’7″ colossus, and Leeds United should be encouraged by the comments.
What did he say?
Speaking ahead of his side’s trip to the King Power Stadium on Saturday, the Austrian was asked whether Forster could be involved and told The Daily Echo: “No not really.
“I had to make the choice to have two strong keepers with Angus Gunn and Alex McCarthy and I think they did it well. Both.”
Hasenhuttl then went on to explain that he is keen to offload England international Forster rather than give him an opportunity to impress in the first team.
He added: “It can be that Fraser can take a game in the Under-23s so it’s possible to do in the future because he needs to get back into the position where he is an option for other clubs maybe, and that’s what we try to force in the future.”
Could he go to Leeds?
They may well be a good option if a deal can be worked out.
The Daily Mail reported in July that the Yorkshire club failed with a bid to bring the 30-year-old to Elland Road before they signed Jamal Blackman on loan from Chelsea instead, but following the serious injury that saw his temporary spell cut short the Whites need a stopper this month to compete with Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
While Forster has fallen completely out of favour at Southampton and hasn’t played a match for them in over a year – or been a part of a matchday squad in any competition this season – he proved previously that he can be a brilliant goalkeeper consistently when he is in form.
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