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Everton warned off pursuit of Southampton ace regarded as priority target by Koeman - report
By Tom Blackburn
Everton have been informed that their pursuit of Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster will amount to nothing, according to a report.
Following Ronald Koeman’s move from Southampton to Everton, he has been tipped to bring a number of star players with him, most notably priority target Forster.
However, The Liverpool Echo claims that the Saints have told Everton that they would warn off any attempt to sign the England keeper.
In a press conference earlier today, Koeman confirmed that the club are in the market to buy a second goalkeeper to support senior man Joel Robles following the summer departure of Tim Howard.
“If you look at the squad you see one goalkeeper,” Koeman said, reported by the Liverpool Echo. “You can’t start a season with one goalkeeper.”
Southampton No1 Forster, currently away on international duty with England at Euro 2016, is one of a number of keepers linked with joining Koeman to Goodison but the Echo claim the Saints would strongly rebuff any approach.
He is currently behind Joe Hart in the England pecking order, but kept pressure on Roy Hodgson’s first choice with a strong second half of the season in which he kept six clean sheets in 18 league appearances, following an injury at the start of the campaign.
Football Insider reported on Thursday that Everton were closing in on youngster Chris Renshaw from Oldham but they will need to add at least one senior goalkeeper ahead of next season.
The Dutchman didn’t given much away about who he would be targeting but the Toffees have so far been linked with Steve Mandanda, Tim Krul and Neto.
But the former Ajax boss will first seek the advice and opinion of key figures at Everton before making any moves in the transfer market.
At the press conference Koeman chose to remain coy on the prospect of incoming transfers having already been linked with Graziano Pelle, Virgil Van Dijk and Victor Wanyama, and with Forster now linked Southampton will be on high alert.
In other Everton news, fans reacted on Twitter to Koeman’s press conference.