SAINTS have been made favourites to sign Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope, with the relegated ace’s odds of making a St Mary’s move slashed.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are named 2/1 favourite to sign the 30-year-old this summer on Sky Bet, with Newcastle United coming in second at 4/1.

West Ham, Fulham, Tottenham, Bournemouth, Manchester United and Crystal Palace are also named on the list with the odds increasing to 18/1 with the Selhurst Park side.

Saints need to sign a goalkeeper with Fraser Forster expected to complete his Tottenham Hotspur free transfer in the coming weeks.

Alex McCarthy, 32, will remain with the club after he signed renewed terms in the last year but 40-year-old Willy Caballero could also exit at the end of his deal this summer.

Meanwhile, Harry Lewis has already sealed a move to League Two Bradford City, linking up with former boss Mark Hughes.

England international Pope has only one year remaining on his contract – although there is a reported option for another year – and could make a switch back to the Premier League this summer, with Saints considered a likely destination.

Pope – who has earned eight caps for the Three Lions – has 141 matches of Premier League experience to his name, after signing from Charlton in July 2016.

The six-foot five-inch stopper emerged as the number one in the 2017-18 campaign and has been one of the Clarets’ best performers since, despite relegation on the final day of the season this year.

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