Publicly Saints have said nothing about who on the goalkeeping roster will be offered a new deal and who will be let go with all four keepers out of contract in the summer, but an FA list of Agent transactions reveals that the deal may already be done.

Rumours persisted at the tail end of last year that Ralph Hasenhuttl has made his mind up about which of his goalkeepers would be retained at the end of the season with a new deal and the rumour was that man is Alex McCarthy.

McCarthy started the season as Hasenhuttl's number 1 and on the surface that seemed to back up the rumour.

Now the FA has published it's list of what they term intermediary transactions or to clarify the list of deals brokered by agents for not only transfers in and out, but updated contracts.
done.

On that list is shown that an intermediary/agent called Adam Brown has brokered a contract update for goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

There is no date on when this was done, but it is very strange that this was not announced at the time that it happened.

If the case is that McCarthy signed a new deal earlier in the season when he was first choice as the rumour mill suggested, then at this moment in time it looks like Saints have jumped the gun and made a mistake here.

Of course we don't know the background of the situation, Fraser Forster for instance might well have intimated to the club that although he would give 100% for the last year of his contract, indeed as he has done with his revitalised displays, but that he didn't see his future at St Mary's and would prefer a move to a club where he would be first choice or maybe a move to an area of the country where he intends to settle when his playing days are over.

I have no insider knowledge that this might be the case I am just giving an overview of possibilities.

But the evidence that McCarthy has signed a new deal seems to be in black & white unless the agent has been paid but the contract remains unsigned, although that would appear highly unlikely.

On one hand it would appear that Saints have made a mistake here in choosing McCarthy over Forster , but as I said we don't know all the circumstances, but on the other hand it might also show that Saints are determined to sign a new first choice keeper for next season, McCarthy would command less in annual salary than Fraser Forster, but would be an experienced back up if we have brought a new man in.

But the question still remains that the deal of an updated contract appears on the FA list, so why haven't Saints announced this !

The list though does clarify another rumour that Jack Stephens signed a new deal, there is no sign of that on the list, although it could be the case that the defender doesn't have an agent and brokered the deal himself and therefore there was no fee payable.

However the 28 year old is listed being represented by ICM Stellar Sports, the same agency that handled James Ward Prowse's new contract so that is unlikely and it would seem that at the moment Stephens is still on his present deal and could be released in the summer.

Photo: Action Images

SaintPaulVW added 09:36 - Apr 1 McCarthy is an able back up and a good squad player to have. Premier league teams have to operate pragmatically where the player you really want may not actually be available right now. We gave Shane Long, another great back up, a new deal and then loaned him out. Agree the best option at moment is sign new First choice No1 or give Forster a new deal. However if Forster wants silly money at least we have a back up until the next Shilton is signed up.

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cocklebreath added 18:28 - Apr 1 He’s not an able back up he’s shite
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SanMarco added 20:39 - Apr 3 I hope this is the April fool - cocklebreath's pithy summing up is right for me.
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