Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl was key to the club holding onto Alex McCarthy this season.

McCarthy signed his three-and-a-half-year contract extension back in August 2021 – on the proviso and salary of being the first-team goalkeeper, says the Athletic.

Hasenhuttl pushed the club to award McCarthy the contract, despite some belief held that it was Fraser Forster who was adapting more to the modern game.

This summer Forster left for Tottenham and the club acted quickly to bring in 20-year-old Gavin Bazunu and also tied Willy Caballero down to a further year.

Caballero has been credited by Hasenhuttl as a major player in the Saints dressing room, while McCarthy is notably supportive of young Bazunu.