Gavin Bazunu has established himself as a Premier League number one this season after impressing in his first few outings for Southampton.
Bazunu spent last season on loan at the Saints' bitter south coast rivals Portsmouth, before departing Fratton Park to return to his parent club Manchester City.
With Ederson, Zack Steffen, and veteran Scott Carson firmly established as the goalkeeping pecking order at the Etihad, it was clear a move was necessary for Bazunu to get regular top-level football. That eventually materialised in a £15m move to Southampton.
It's brilliant to see an Irish goalkeeper like Bazunu established as a first choice player at a major club like Southampton - but if reports on Tuesday are to be believed, he could have had an even bigger move this summer.
Major European clubs were interested in Gavin Bazunu last summer
Gavin Bazunu has been established as Stephen Kenny's Irish number one for some time now - and in the past few weeks he has established himself as similar at Southampton.
14 November 2021; Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu saves a shot on goal by Olivier Thill of Luxembourg during the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying group A match between Luxembourg and Republic of Ireland at Stade de Luxembourg in Luxembourg. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The move to Southampton has been a success for both parties thus far, but things could have looked very different for Bazunu, according to a report today in the Athletic.
The report suggests that Everton were also interested in signing Bazunu, as well as Portuguese giants Benfica, and Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal. Benfica were clearly watching when Bazunu saved a penalty and kept a clean sheet across his two games against Portugal last year.
Most intriguingly, the report suggests that multiple staff members at Tottenham Hotspur now regret their lack of movement for Bazunu, especially given his potential to become a long-term replacement for Hugo Lloris at the club.
Lloris is now 35, and entering his tenth season as Spurs' first choice 'keeper, so it is only natural that a talented youngster such as Bazunu would enter the thinking of Antonio Conte's side.
Funnily enough, it was the departure of Fraser Forster from Southampton to Spurs which allowed Bazunu to make his move into the Premier League with the Saints.
The report from the Athletic also details the positive impact that fellow ex-City goalkeeper Willy Caballero has had on Gavin Bazunu in his first few months at St Mary's.
Bazunu and Caballero sit together in the changing room, while former first-choice Alex McCarthy is said to be a similarly encouraging presence for the 20-year-old Irish keeper.
We expect to see Gavin Bazunu starting for Ireland's crucial Nations League fixtures next week. It will be fascinating to see if he can manouevre an even bigger Premier League move in the coming years.
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