please log in to view this image Bristol City Rest Keeper Ahead Of Southampton Interest Former Saints manager Nigel Pearson strangely rested his first choice goalkeeper for the visit to Millwall yesterday, leaving the Ashton Gate faithful to suggest he was assessing his back up keeper's ability to step up next season should Saints come calling. Ex Saints manager Nigel Pearson has suggested that he decided to play second choice goalkeeper Max O’Leary ahead of usual number 1 Daniel Bentley in the Robins’ 4-1 defeat at Millwall because he wanted to assess the 24-year-old’s abilities, with rumours that Bentley could be heading to Southampton in the summer. Saints have had issues this season with the goalkeepers and Ralph Hasenhuttl has revealed that he will rotate both Alex McCarthy & Fraser Forster between now and the end of the season. So it is natural that the club will be assessing options between the sticks in the summer, but is Dan Bentley a viable transfer target. The 27 year old stopper started his career at Southend becoming first choice in season 2013/14 , three solid seasons followed including a promotion season back into League 1. This earned him a move to Championship club Brentford in 2016 and he enjoyed another three solid seasons in the Bee's goal prompting a move to Bristol City in the summer of 2019 for a fee said to be around £2 million. Again he has been undisputed number 1 since his signing and his form has prompted rumours of Premier League clubs being interested. But the big question is can he make the step up from the Championship to the Premier League, turning 28 in July he is at the peak age for a keeper and certainly has the experience of being a regular starter over an 8 season period. There will be a lot of thinking to do at St Mary's in the summer regarding the goalkeeping situation, they will be looking to offload at least one, probably Angus Gunn and could perhaps be looking at two. Hard to give an opinion on this one as to be blunt I know little about Bently. https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/news/54971/
Would there be a transfer fee or is he out of contract? I think he has been a great asset because from the limited matches I have watched he saved our bacon a lot and I would be sorry to see him leave. Gunn has been around the block for a good few years and has never hit the headlines, but a good shout.
Think you’re mixing him up with his dad Bryan Gunn. Angus Gunn is only 25. Bentley is still under contract so there will be a fee.
I said it in another post, if our squad is as bad as some on here reckon, we will get little to no money for those that might be moved on, add in those out of contract and we will have little to no money coming in to rebuild. Therefore, to raise capital to benefit the squad, we may be forced to sell any valuable assets we have to fund an overhaul. Classic Steve Landsdown traits.
Not surprised there is interest in Bentley - he's the main reason we've ended up safe this season. The difference between now and before though, is that before, players like Bentley would be inclined to 'jump ship', whereas Pearson may inspire some of them to stick around and see what happens. That's NOT a dig at LJ - everyone knows that I think he did ok for us, but Nigel has a pedigree and commands more respect in the footballing world. I can see us landing the type of player that would have snubbed us under past regimes. Of course, the decision whether to sell Bentley or not may be completely a club decision - Bentley may have no say in it whatsoever.........