Fraser Spinney Archives: 01/2024

Southampton do not want to lose any of their first team squad this January transfer window, but their resolve may be tested with a late bid.

It has been no secret that the right wing position has been the priority for Russell Martin this month, with Southampton yet to replace Nathan Tella after the Nigeria international was sold to Bayer Leverkusen for £20 million in the summer.

Southampton had to score in the 89th minute to draw 1-1 with Watford and set up a home replay in the FA Cup fourth round.

The priority for Russell Martin is unquestionably promotion from the Championship this season, but with the club on a record-breaking unbeaten run Southampton will not want to halt their momentum with a cup defeat.

The midfielder had been at Southampton since the age of nine and had signed his first professional contract in 2022 but joins Brighton for an undisclosed fee, with Southampton including a sell-on fee in the deal.

Southampton have a reputation for making big profits on promising young talents, whether that be players they have signed cheap or that have progressed through the club’s famous academy.

As exclusively reported by The Boot Room, Southampton are one of a number of club’s interested in a deal to sign Khata from the Hungarian side, with The City Group, SC Herenveen and a number of German clubs also interested in the exciting young midfielder.

Whilst Southampton may feel they have work to do themselves in the transfer window, news of West Ham signing Kalvin Phillips on loan could have a positive knock-on effect for the club’s future plans.

With the transfer window closing in next Wednesday, Southampton find themselves linked with yet another right winger.

Southampton’s focus this transfer window has been primarily on keeping players rather than buying them, but an exciting transfer link has now emerged.