It is no secret that Southampton are targeting a right winger this transfer window, as they look to get their squad in prime position for a promotion charge.
Russell Martin oversaw a busy summer, with key figures departing and a huge overhaul of players. The likes of James Ward-Prowse, Roméo Lavia and Tino Livramento all made Premier League moves for big money, but it was Nathan Tella’s departure late in the window which left Southampton without sufficient time to replace the 24-year-old.
Southampton had spent the summer rebutting interest for the Nigeria international after a loan spell at Burnley that saw him score 19 goals, but when Bayer Leverkusen offered £20 million for Tella’s services it was considered too good to turn down.
The Saints did sign Ryan Fraser on loan from Newcastle United – with the Scotland international showing his quality last weekend – but he was never brought in with the intention of being the Tella replacement.
With Kamaldeen Sulemana picking up an injury at the end of November and Sam Edozie out until February from the injury he sustained against Norwich City on New Year’s Day, the need for a winger is certainly heightened.
17-year-old Sam Amo-Ameyaw was given his opportunity in the 4-0 win over Walsall in the FA Cup last weekend but Fraser is the only senior winger who is fit.
This has left to Southampton being linked with a number of different attacking players this month and, with the club’s current crop of senior wingers all preferring to play from the left, the right is clearly the area being targeted.
What has Russell Martin said about January transfer window?
Speaking about this month’s plans, Martin said he is hoping the club add “one or two” but insisted he is happy with his squad.
The ex-Swansea City manager also confirmed that Tella’s departure left a hole in the squad that the club could not fill before the end of the summer transfer window, as he explained: “Nathan was the one who, with probably the others we expected them to go, but with Nathan we fought off interest as it was not at the valuation”.
“Then, all of a sudden, a bid came in out of nowhere that was brilliant for him and the club so at that point he had to go.”
“We, perhaps, haven’t replaced him with that particular profile because there wasn’t one available at that point.”
Martin’s words should also be reassuring to Southampton fans fearing the club will not sign a solution in the right wing position this month, as he said: “I am pretty sure that, by the end of the window, we will get someone we are very happy with in that position”.
Who have Southampton been linked with this January?
Martin confirmed that he and the club are “very open to different possibilities” as the Tella replacement, which is reflected in the range of players linked with a move to St Mary’s.
In the last few weeks, Southampton have been linked with a number of wide players. Manchester United’s Amad Diallo and Bournemouth’s David Brooks have both been linked with loan moves but represent very different players. They are both left-footed players who prefer to operate from the right but where Diallo is a combination of pace and trickery, Brooks relies more on his creativity and technical ability.
Manuel Benson of Burnley is another left-footed wide man who has been linked, but any deal would be difficult due to the summer saga surrounding Tella and the sour relationship between the hierarchies at both clubs. Benson was a key feature of Burnley’s Championship-winning campaign last season, scoring 14 goals in all competitions, but has fallen out of favour since the club returned to the Premier League.
Most recently, Sunderland’s Jack Clarke has also been mentioned but Southampton may have to wait until the summer for any deal to be done with the Premier League the winger’s most likely destination. Clarke is right-footed and primarily plays from the left, highlighting that the Saints are exploring a range of options.
A more left-field option was Liverpool’s Fabio Carvalho, who had been recalled early from a loan spell at RB Leipzig and could have covered a number of forward positions. Carvalho instead joined Hull City on loan this week, with assurances around game time likely a factor in the decision.