Fraser Forster 'undergoing Tottenham Hotspur medical'

The 34-year-old has spent the last eight years in between the sticks at St Mary's since his 2014 arrival from Celtic, whom he was loaned back to for one season in 2019-20.

Forster has now turned out 161 times for Southampton in all competitions - keeping 55 clean sheets - and he enjoyed more regular Premier League action last season.

Forster did not make a top-flight appearance before December but then started 19 consecutive games amid Alex McCarthy's injury layoff - keeping clean sheets in three of them.

The England international missed his side's final two games of the season against Liverpool and Leicester City, though, and his contract expires next month.

Tottenham are believed to be on the lookout for a home-grown goalkeeper to act as Hugo Lloris's deputy next term and were strongly linked with a move for West Bromwich Albion's Sam Johnstone.

However, The Athletic now reports that Spurs are closing in on the signing of Forster, and the veteran shot-stopper has arrived in the capital to complete his medical.

Pierluigi Gollini has acted as Spurs' number two throughout the 2021-22 season, and Tottenham have the option to make the 27-year-old's loan deal from Atalanta BC permanent after Lloris extended his stay until 2024 earlier this year.

Gollini did not play a single minute in the Premier League for Spurs, though, and the report adds that the Italian will not become a permanent member of Antonio Conte's squad.

Nevertheless, the Atalanta man has insisted that he would be willing to stay on in North London, telling the DAZN Talks Podcast: "What future for me? I tell the truth: if I could, I would stay at Tottenham, I feel very good here; I am very attached to this group and the club.

"It's normal that I was hoping to play a bit more, but I knew from the beginning that I would play the cups and Lloris the league.

"I played 11 games and was lucky enough to train with Lloris. You can grow even if you don't play, although there are things you only learn on the pitch, like the mistakes you make to improve.

"If they decide to keep me, I will be happy to stay. Otherwise, if we split up, I would like to go back to Italy. I love my home, the Serie A. Right now, I don't know anything yet."

As well as Forster, Spurs are expected to improve their backline with one or two centre-back additions in the summer and continue to be strongly linked with a move for Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni.

A new left-wing back could also be on the cards for Tottenham, with Brighton & Hove Albion's Marc Cucurella and Eintracht Frankfurt's Filip Kostic on the transfer wishlist.

Earlier on Wednesday, Tottenham also announced that 18-year-old striker Dane Scarlett had signed a new contract with the club until the summer of 2026.