The speculation around footballer’s futures is rife at this time of the year, given that clubs are scrambling around in the January transfer window to ensure their squads are ready for the second half of the season.
Southampton are no different, with a number of players who could leave this month but also some who could come in to bolster the ranks to help with the club’s promotion push.
Russell Martin has already confirmed that Sam Edozie will be out until February having been on the receiving end of a heavy challenge against Norwich, with Southampton having already been in the market for a winger even before this news.
Che Adams has been very non-committal on his future with his contract expiring in the summer and it is widely accepted that if Southampton receive a good offer for the Scotland international this January then he will be allowed to leave. With summer signing Ross Stewart also expected to be out until the end of the season, Southampton are assessing whether they can bring a striker in this month.
Adams is not the only senior figure at the club whose contract is expiring though, with Martin providing an update on the future of a player who has been key this season in his pre-Walsall press conference.
Will Stuart Armstrong sign a new Southampton contract?
Stuart Armstrong struggled for fitness slightly in the opening weeks of the season but since then has looked back to his best for Southampton and been pivotal in midfield.
There have been no real links this January, but when asked if Armstrong would be happy to remain at the Saints until the end of the season Martin answered: “I think so.”
The question on Southampton fans lips is not necessarily regarding this transfer window, and is instead about whether he will extend his stay beyond the end of this season. Martin was quick to downplay his role relating to contract discussions but explained: “My job is to make the players feel like they belong, feel like they are part of something to enjoy and to enable them to put the best versions of themselves on the pitch”.
The ex-Swansea City manager did concede that discussions around the future of players such as Armstrong will happen this month though, saying: “This month, there will be lots more conversations. I tend to stay away from that stuff. The chats I have with Stu are to check in and see if he’s okay”.
Armstrong has struggled to stay fit over the past couple of seasons but, despite being 31 now, he has featured in every Championship game this season and started 20 of the 26. The man capped 44 times by Scotland has scored three league goals for the club this campaign and also provided an assist but his ability to pick up pockets of space and drive with the ball to get Southampton moving forward is perhaps his biggest asset to the Saints.
Martin echoed this sentiment in his press conference, as he said: “I think Stuey has been amazing for us and from where he was at the very start of the season to where he is now, I’m really proud of him”.
Armstrong has also almost certainly benefitted from consistently having Flynn Downes behind him anchoring the midfield which gives him the licence to get forward. Downes’ ability to keep the ball moving and feed passes into the more attacking players is the reason Martin was so desperate to secure his loan signing in the summer and Southampton fans would love for the West Ham United midfielder to join permanently.
This is Armstrong’s fifth season at the club and he has become a real fan favourite. He was a crucial player under Ralph Hasenhuttl, but niggling injuries saw his influence diminish as Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last season.
Now, Armstrong looks determined to help Southampton return to the top flight at the first attempt. Regardless of his success in doing so, Southampton fans will be desperately hoping he decides to extend his stay beyond the summer.