Bazunu signing close with reported transfer fee named

The St Mary’s side have been pursuing the 20-year-old Republic of Ireland international for a number of weeks, with just a few finishing touches to be applied in recent days.

Bazunu – who won Portsmouth’s player of the year award last season, while on loan at Fratton Park – is set to be given his first steps in the Premier League.

The club have acted quickly to replace departing Fraser Forster, who joins Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer at the end of his contract this month.

With Bazunu in, would be quite happy to see Caballero given another year to mentor. #SaintsFC

Those 🇵🇱 Lis reports contradicted themselves at the time, but him coming in as a free agent and loaned out makes sense.

22-23: McCarthy/Bazunu + Willy
23-24: Bazunu, McCarthy + Lis

— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) June 9, 2022

Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl had made clear early last campaign that Saints would try to bring in a young goalkeeper who can push for the number one shirt.

• Read more - Two clubs named with Saints owners reportedly in discussions to buy

Bazunu is the man, and The Athletic are now reporting the fee required to capture the promising youngster.

They detail that Saints have paid £12million, with add-ons that could see the fee rise to a figure in the region of £15million.

The report adds that there is a buy-back clause inserted in the deal, in a similar nature to that of Tino Livramento’s summer move from Chelsea last season.

The Cobham outfit would have to pay a reported £40million+ to bring the 19-year-old back to Stamford Bridge, once the clause is active.

A regular for Manchester City’s youth teams, Bazunu never played for the first-team at Etihad Stadium. He does have 10 Irish caps and 84 senior games under his belt, across Shamrock Rovers, Rochdale and Portsmouth.

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