Norwich City goalkeeper George Long closing in on Southampton switch | OneFootball

George Long could be on the move, as Southampton opens talks with the Carrow Road shot stopper

Norwich City goalkeeper George Long looks set for a switch to fellow Championship side Southampton.

According to a report from The Pink Un, the Saints are in talks with the 31-year-old, following a complete revamp of the goalkeeper department at Carrow Road.

Goalkeepers Vladan Kovacevic, Daniel Grimshaw and Louie Moulden have all joined the club this summer, and Long has therefore been pushed to the back of the line.

The report states that Norwich boss Liam Manning said that the former Millwall man had been given permission to explore opportunities away from Carrow Road, and Southampton may take that opportunity to bolster their goalkeeper department even further.

Southampton open talks with George Long to add depth in goalkeeper position

The Pink Un have reported that Long is in talks with Southampton over making a permanent move to St Mary's Stadium.

Angus Gunn - Norwich's number one for the past three seasons following their Premier League relegation - was let go at the end of his contract this summer and has since signed for top-flight side Nottingham Forest. Now, it seems like his number two may also be at another club this season.

Long arrived at Carrow Road in 2023 after playing 36 times in the previous campaign for Millwall. However, behind Gunn in the pecking order, he managed just 16 Championship appearances in the two seasons he's played at Carrow Road so far, keeping two clean sheets in the process.

With three goalkeepers seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order, it's no surprise that Long has been allowed to depart, with Southampton looking like the beneficiary.

The Saints have a strong goalkeeping core themselves, with Gavin Bazunu now starting ahead of veteran shot-stopper Alex McCarthy.

If Long arrives, it'll be difficult to see him starting games, but he'd be able to test himself alongside two solid goalkeepers at a club expected to challenge near the top of the Championship.

George Long probably cannot believe his luck as Southampton move nears

The Pink Un reported that Liam Manning said last week: "I'm sure the stage of his career he is at he will want to go and play" - that's not likely to happen at Southampton though.

Whilst he may not get regular game-time at the Saints, there's a likelihood that he'll emerge ahead of McCarthy as the reliable back-up to Bazunu, and slot in between the sticks for cup games and in case the Irishman suffers an injury.

Long has become used to being the backup keeper, playing minimal minutes for Norwich, none in the 2021/22 Championship campaign at Millwall, and little in his final season at Hull City. However, when called upon, he can be a solid option to have.

The last time he was designated number one, he kept 12 clean sheets in 37 Championship games at Millwall.

Therefore, bringing him in would be a smart bit of business, and a win-win for two sets of sides looking to improve their goalkeeper ranks on one side, and let go of a player deemed surplus to requirements on the other.