LAST UPDATE | 15 Jun 2022
GAVIN BAZUNU WILL become a Southampton player after Manchester City accepted a package that could be worth up to €18.5 million (£16m) for the 20-year-old goalkeeper.
The Republic of Ireland international will now undergo a medical today before finalising the move, and will then be unveiled by the Premier League club who have been in negotiations over his transfer for much of the past week.
The42 reported last Wednesday how City and Southampton were nearing a breakthrough over the deal, and that has now materialised with add-ons for Bazunu’s transfer meaning it’s a deal that has risen above the initial €11.5m (£10m).
Bazunu was named in the PFA League One team of the season following his displays for Portsmouth, while his emergence on the international stage has also brought him to wider attention.
With just two years remaining on his current contract with City, it is understood that Bazunu was keen to continue his progress by playing regular first-team football rather than become an understudy.
The departure of Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster to Tottenham Hotspur has left a void at St Mary’s Stadium, with the experienced Alex McCarthy also on the books.
Bazunu is now in line to become Ralph Hasenhuttl’s No.1 ahead of the new Premier League season, the latest juncture for what has been a rapid rise for Bazunu since breaking into the Shamrock Rovers side at just 16, having been involved in training with the first-team since the age of 14.
It was his emergence at Tallaght Stadium that led to City pouncing in 2019, and a successful loan spell with Rochdale in League Two also led to Ireland boss Stephen Kenny making him his first choice.
Bazunu missed the start of this Nations League campaign with a back injury but his move to Southampton is now set to be completed.
Great news. At 16mil, that’s probably too high a price for Southampton for a backup goalie, so he is being signed as first choice. Also think Hassenhutl is a really good coach, so hopefully his progression toward world class will continue at pace
This lad is definitely our best keeper. Kelleher is good but I think Bazunu is a step above.
@Stephen Foster: Travers is playing at a higher level than both
@Michael Graham: fair enough, but seriously, this lad is better than anything else we have in the GK position.
@Michael Graham: not anymore.
Should be couple quid in it for Rovers
Pressure really on Kelleher to get regular football now. Travers will be playing regularly with Bournemouth and now Bazunu with Southampton.
@Bert Carolan: I don’t know about that. He’s still only 23. He should be focused on his own development and doing what’s right for him whatever that may be. If he’s going to move for regular games it has to be because it’s what’s best for him in the long run and not just so he can chase the Ireland no.1 shirt
@Phil Redmond: Bazunu is just 20 since February. Quite a difference in age albeit they are keepers who would expect to play until mid 30s at least.
@Phil Redmond: the best thing for him has to be games. Liverpool want a decent keeper to sit on the bench, and be happy to be there.. but he won’t develop that way.
They won’t be conceding 9 goals in a match anymore with big Gav in goals
Teally bug fee for a young keeper, will be a great chance for him to play in the premier league on a regular basis now.
Collins and Egan could use a move to premier league too. I feel they are good enough.
Is there a buy back clause?
@TheCraftyCulchie: don’t think we could afford him. We might be the moneybags of ireland with a sugar daddy pumping money into us, but i think Gav is out of our reach now.
@TheCraftyCulchie: City will defo be adding one, no way they’ll let a player of his potential leave for that fee without a buy back clause.
Hope there was a sell on clause when he went to City….
@Ken O’Grady: seemingly they got something because he played for Ireland. The windfall is estimated to be over 2 million euro