Former Saints manager Nigel Pearson strangely rested his first choice goalkeeper for the visit to Millwall yesterday, leaving the Ashton Gate faithful to suggest he was assessing his back up keeper's ability to step up next season should Saints come calling.

Ex Saints manager Nigel Pearson has suggested that he decided to play second choice goalkeeper Max O’Leary ahead of usual number 1 Daniel Bentley in the Robins’ 4-1 defeat at Millwall because he wanted to assess the 24-year-old’s abilities, with rumours that Bentley could be heading to Southampton in the summer.

Saints have had issues this season with the goalkeepers and Ralph Hasenhuttl has revealed that he will rotate both Alex McCarthy & Fraser Forster between now and the end of the season.

So it is natural that the club will be assessing options between the sticks in the summer, but is Dan Bentley a viable transfer target.

The 27 year old stopper started his career at Southend becoming first choice in season 2013/14 , three solid seasons followed including a promotion season back into League 1.

This earned him a move to Championship club Brentford in 2016 and he enjoyed another three solid seasons in the Bee's goal prompting a move to Bristol City in the summer of 2019 for a fee said to be around £2 million.

Again he has been undisputed number 1 since his signing and his form has prompted rumours of Premier League clubs being interested.

But the big question is can he make the step up from the Championship to the Premier League, turning 28 in July he is at the peak age for a keeper and certainly has the experience of being a regular starter over an 8 season period.

There will be a lot of thinking to do at St Mary's in the summer regarding the goalkeeping situation, they will be looking to offload at least one, probably Angus Gunn and could perhaps be looking at two.

Hard to give an opinion on this one as to be blunt I know little about Bently.

Photo: Action Images

highfield49 added 12:26 - May 2 Just been browsing this article and, whilst I've never heard of him either, he looks like a decent signing. Tall, athletic and commands his area, combined attributes we haven't had in a goalkeeper for some years. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/long-arm-law-dan-bentley-3497071.
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SaintPaulVW added 12:56 - May 2 We may be interested but will we have the spare funds. I think there are several other positions that need more urgent recruitment and with Ralph's wish for a larger squad, does this move fit?
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