Southampton are closing in on bolstering their squad ahead of the Premier League season kicking off.
Russell Martin’s side have slowly but surely gone about their business during the summer transfer window as they look to make the step up from Championship to Premier League level.
Significant progress has already been made in both the defence and in midfield, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes notably returning to the club following their significant efforts to lead the side to promotion in the 2023/24 season whilst on loan.
Attacking options, although looking still light, have been improved by the permanent signing of Ben Brereton Diaz from Villarreal, and the attacker arrives with experience of performing for a Premier League side under the cosh, as he did in his half-a-season spell at Sheffield United in the 2023/24 campaign.
Brereton Diaz won’t be the only attacking arrival at St Mary’s, as Southampton close in on an attacker who is undergoing a medical at the club.
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Southampton set to sign Cameron Archer as he undergoes medical
Southampton are reportedly set to sign Cameron Archer for ‘£15m’ as he reportedly underwent a medical this morning, per Lyall Thomas on X.
There is ‘hope to register’ Archer in time for the Premier League weekend, however Southampton are ‘not rushing’ to get the deal over the line.
The Aston Villa attacker, who spent last season at Sheffield United with fellow Saint Brereton Diaz, was joined by Lesley Ugochukwu for a medical.
Midfielder Ugochukwu will be joining up with Martin’s side this season on loan from Chelsea, as Southampton look to add further depth to the centre-of-the-park.
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Cameron Archer must return to his Championship goal scoring form
Prior to his move to Sheffield United, there was a lot of expectation for Archer to kick on from his loan spells at Preston North End and Middlesbrough in the Championship and to continue that form in the Premier League.
However, the attacker struggled for Sheffield United following his permanent move, and then returned to Villa Park following a season that saw him score just four Premier League goals in 29 appearances.
However, the striker had previously had an emphatic spell at Middlesbrough, where he got 17 goal contributions in just 20 matches, something that would be massive for Southampoton if he was able to return to this form.
For such a high price tag, it seems a risky piece of business from Southampton to go after Archer, particularly after his recent struggles, however his goal scoring streaks in the Championship should give Saints fans’ confidence of the attacker being able to provide an impact.