George Overhill

Sun 30 July 2023 19:10, UK

Southampton want David Button this summer and are watching proceedings as the goalkeeper heads for the West Brom exit, according to Alan Nixon.

The Baggies are suddenly at risk of losing their whole set of senior keepers, with Reading already attempting to sign 34-year-old Button, but the former Brighton man apparently requiring a pay off to leave to the cash-strapped League One side as they can’t afford his contract.

At the same time Luton Town have had a bid accepted for Alex Palmer, 26, [Tom Collomosse, 29 July] and according to Nixon on 18 June [Patreon] Newcastle are interested in 21-year-old Josh Griffiths.

The Sun journalist ow reports via Patreon (30 July) the Saints want Button as their number two goalkeeper, and are keeping an eye on the situation around the Reading deal.

Sheffield Wednesday have also been previously linked [Birmingham Live, 21 June], but Southampton are probably the most financially capable at this stage.

Way out?

West Brom are having to let players leave this summer due to a difficult financial situation and Button is likely the one they’d most happily allow to depart.

If his Reading move requires the Baggies to take a financial hit for him to accept then perhaps Southampton are the answer, having been relegated from the Premier League this year.

They are likely to be able to afford his contract with the benefit of parachute payments, in a way that Reading are in no position to do having dropped into the third tier.

But Carlos Corberan and the club now have a dangerous juggling act to perform in terms of who stays and goes at the keeper position.

The Spaniard has admitted that Luton’s Palmer bid has come at a difficult time with the new season on the brink of getting under way [Express & Star, 29 July].

If the Baggies can afford it clearly it would be preferable to keep Palmer as number one and Griffiths as the understudy for next season, while moving Button off the wage bill.

But if Luton are about to snap up the Palmer, and the Newcastle risk remains in the air until the window shuts on Griffiths, it may be that Button has to stay.

Should Southampton make even a moderate offer, or even just agree to take over his contract, West Brom likely would see it as preferable to the difficulties involved in the Reading move, but they can only do so if they are confident of keeping hold of at least one of the others.

In other West Brom news, a BBC pundit has claimed the Albion boss is now regretting not leaving when he had another job available.