Southampton Linked With Another Goalkeeper
Tuesday, 16th Dec 2025 08:56

After yesterday's news that Saints were after Sunderland's second choice keeper, comes news that they are also looking at another current bench warmer, this time in Germany.

There has always been a section of the Saints support that hasn't taken to Gavin Bazunu, whatever he has done, has never been good enough for some, even playing in a team that went 22 games unbeaten in our last promotion season wasn't good enough and this season he has been decent enough, although some will pick fault with every performance.

I would contend that Bazunu is a good keeper, he was thrown in at the deep end aged just 20 behind the worst defence in the Premier League and now after coming back from a long injury, this season despite again finding himself behind a defence with no organisation in the main, he has done well and indeed in recent games has started to show just what he can do with some vital saves.

He is still only 23 and for a goalkeeper that is young, older fans will remember that Tim Flowers took around 3 years at the club before he really started to blossom and he went on to be Premier League winner and England International.

Yesterday we revealed that Saints were said to be interested in Sunderland's Anthony Patterson and today Bavarianfootballworks.com are claiming that Southampton are looking at Bayern Munich's Daniel Peretz.

The 25 year old Israeli International is currently on loan at Hamburger SV, but he is yet to make a League appearance and his only action has been in the German Cup where he has played twice.

But the question is whether he has the CV needed for the job in hand at St Mary's, the headline says "Bayern Munich keeper on loan at Hamburg" that sounds good, but when you consider that for Bayern he has played just 4 games in the Bundesliga in the two seasons he was in their squad before joining Hamburg this summer and that in addition to that he has played just 2 German cup games plus 1 in Europe, he has barely played in the last 2 1/2 years.

Previously to moving to Germany he played in his native Israel for Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he spent just two seasons as their number one keeper, there he made 71 League appearances plus 4 in the Israeli cup, although 24 games in European competition does increase his experience, other than that a season on loan in the Israeli 2nd division is his only club experience.

He does however have 10 caps for Israel, having made his debut for his country in 2022, so he is not first choice, however it is 1 more game than the 9 games in total played for both Bayern Munich & Hamburg in roughly the same period.

I know very little about Peretz, so I can't really comment, but from his career CV he does not seem to be the answer to the problem that some Saints supporters seem to feel that we have.

If we bring in a new keeper it needs to be someone who has a track record at the level we need and although that is the case with Anthony Patterson who starred in Sunderland's promotion campaign last season, it certainly could not be said in relation to Daniel Peretz.

All Photos Via Reuters

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Jesus_02 added 12:27 - Dec 16

Fans see pandamonium in the box and mostly put it down to Bazunu but we are still playing a very attacking formation that we cant seem to adapt when needed. The same could be said for THB. He was England U21 Captain and has a full international cap but ask fans and they will tell you he needs to be replaced. Yes we have scored bags of goals but we could have easily have lost those games as well. Arguably we didnt lose to Westbrom because of heroics by Bazunu.

We got some good results against some very average teams and we have just lost to second from bottom Norwich. Know one is blaming Bazunu for either goal.

We need a No 9, a fit RB and a manager that can drill the basicis into the players so we defend the box not the 6yrd area when we need to.

Colburn added 12:40 - Dec 16

Patterson or Trafford would be ideal, not another leftfield gamble. Bazunu may be one of the reasons our defence has poor shape and organisation, this is one of the pitfalls of having inexperience or youth between the sticks. This is for me the main reason young keepers struggle - because they just don’t know how to organise those in front of them. We need a keeper who can do this!

saintpete01 added 13:21 - Dec 16 Bazunu can do the reflex saves But unfortunately cannot do the Bread and Butter of goalkeeping very costly over a season
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Bowlercow added 13:26 - Dec 16 The two keepers we are rumoured to be after would both be replacements for Alex Niether is up to being first choice in the championship or the EPL
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underweststand added 14:32 - Dec 16

You have mentioned several key points here (Nick) but there are larger issues here also.
Firstly calling Patterson Sunderland's second choice keeper begs the question, who do they have for cover in case of injury to the incumbent .. .their third choice? Patterson may have been good enough last season, but clearly he hasn't proven himself at Prem. level so would he be better if he came to us - and we got promotion? We don't want an emergency keeper, but someone dependable for the next 4-5 years. The Israeli lad seems to be an occasional back-up for their regular, and had barely a handful of games - at what level?.

Experience shows Prem. clubs need (at least) one international keeper - if not two.
Home-grown keepers are rare (ex. Flowers) took time to develop and many do not mature their late 20's / early 30's. and IMHO Bazunu fits into that category. A bit too young.
Looking back 10 years - various managers couldn't decide between Forster and McCarthy and both had their chances, but for all his service Alex has had his day - at the highest level and we need someone new and be prepared to plan for the long-term future.

My main point has always been - ANY keeper - is only as good as the defence in front of him, and clearly not all conceded can be laid at Bazunu's door, and I have two examples.
Lawrie Mac. signed Peter Shilton in summer 1982. The (the) England keeper with 50-plus caps to his name - and in our first 9 games Saints conceded 19 goals (NINETEEN), no-one tell me PS suddenly became a bad keeper. Few of those goals conceded were (his) fault.
The last time Sunderland were relegated from the Prem. their goals against tally was enormous, but few people blamed their young keeper - one Jordan Pickford. He later moved onto Everton, and is still England's no.1 choice.

Goalkeepers are often blamed for losing games, but I maintain that games are won - by scoring goals and not lost because of a keeper's mistake(s). We need a solid back line, who know how to defend and a reliable striker capable of scoring regularly at the highest level. Just now - we are lacking BOTH.

BigbadBarry8myboat added 18:12 - Dec 16

Bazunu has 3 key issues: 1) he doesn't communicate which is key to organising a defence in front, 2) he doesn't do the bread and butter well, 3) he is appalling when the ball is hit across him, he misses shots other stoppers would get to.

Hes one for the future but not a current no.1.

Nick you talk about the defence on front, and I agree but, Stephens was resigned because of his "leadership" but when he is back in the team, the defence is worse. THB is a ball playing CB but we don't have a strong man like we had with Killer and Claus.

For me we need another experienced keeper to be No.1, we need an experienced strong communicating CB, and a Striker to help Armstrong.

Meonsaint added 03:29 - Dec 17

Saints should go for Yazeed Abulaila, Jordan's goal keeper. He was magnificent against Iraq in the Arab Cup, brave, brilliant reflexes, clattered anybody in his way whilst commanding the 6 yard box, anticpated shots from long distances and could play with his feet. He has many attributes that both of our keepers don't possess.
If he qualifies for a work permit then worth the investment.
I didn't see the semi-final with Saudi Arabia as I was enroute back to the UK from Amman but all reports were saying he was outstanding again and kept another clean sheet.
It will be interesting to see how he stands up against the Morrocan's in the final.
The Jordanians love their football and are really passionate fans.

saintmark1976 added 07:39 - Dec 17

saintpete01 correctly identifies Bazunu’s basic problems.

Whilst being an acceptable reaction keeper who can play with his feet, he is extremely poor if he has time to think about anything, such as to wether go for a cross or to get down quickly to save a shot from distance.

Last season Ramsdale was purchased because of the weaknesses of Bazunu (and McCarthy) not the other way around.