Joe Rothwell has now revealed whether he would be open to joining Southampton permanently in the summer.
Southampton captured Joe Rothwell on loan from Premier League side Bournemouth in the January transfer window.
The 29-year-old left the Cherries in a bid for more playing time and since joining Russell Martin’s side, he’s featured for 267 minutes in the Championship, close to eclipsing the total number of minutes he played in the top flight (379).
Although Rothwell has played understudy to the excellent Stuart Armstrong and made just two starts in the second tier, he has made quite the impression at St Mary’s with his cannon of a right foot.
In the 5-3 victory over Huddersfield Town, the former Blackburn Rovers midfielder scored an outrageous volley – a potential Goal of the Season contender – and netted a crucial brace in the 4-2 win over Sunderland last time out.
He came off the bench when the score was level and clinically dispatched both of his opportunities in the penalty area to seal all three points.
Remarkably, Rothwell has never been a goalscoring midfielder and during his time at Ewood Park, he netted just 11 goals in 161 appearances.
However, under the tutelage of Martin, he’s flourishing in a more advanced position and has now dropped a hint about his immediate future.
Joe Rothwell is open to joining Southampton permanently
After enjoying the opening stages of his Saints career, Rothwell has expressed his desire to join permanently.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time here. If my time at Bournemouth has come and passed, then it’s something I’m massively open to,” Rothwell told the Daily Echo.
“But I’m not thinking about that at the minute.
“My main focus is to finish as high as we can and hopefully get into those automatic spots to get this club back to the Premier League.”
Rothwell’s future depends on what league Southampton are in
Rothwell has become an important player in Southampton’s push for promotion, winning them points with his goals in victories over Huddersfield Town and Sunderland.
Those strikes have helped keep Martin’s men hot on the heels of the top two and while Armstrong is preferred over him, his impact from the bench has been stunning.
As for his future, it’s all dependant on whether Southampton reach the Premier League or remain in the Championship.
If the worst-case scenario unfolds and the Saints fail to win promotion, Rothwell would be a shrewd signing to make.
On the other hand, if they were to get promoted to the top flight, perhaps they should avoid signing the midfielder.
Yes, he’s made an incredible impact since arriving, but that is in the second tier and Rothwell has found his level.
In the Premier League, as demonstrated by the lack of minutes he’s played, the midfielder is out of his depth in a side fighting towards the bottom.