Crystal Palace goalkeeper Alex McCarthy could be on his way to Southampton

Southampton are in talks with Crystal Palace to sign goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, Sky sources understand.

The south coast club want to sign a new backup goalkeeper to Fraser Forster, after long-term stopper Kelvin Davis retired and on-loan Maarten Stekelenburg returned to Fulham before his sale to Everton.

McCarthy only signed for Crystal Palace last summer from Queens Park Rangers, where he had spent a season as deputy to Rob Green following a transfer from Reading.

But the Eagles brought in Steven Mandanda - the France No 2 - from Marseille last month, providing competition for Wayne Hennessey and Julian Speroni.

McCarthy, 26, only played seven Premier League games for Palace last season after joining for £3.5m.

He had been at six different clubs on loan whilst at Reading including Cambridge, Aldershot, Yeovil, Brentford, Leeds and Ipswich.