Russell Martin will be spending countless hours stressing over how he will keep Southampton in the Premier League this summer.
The Southampton manager did a brilliant job in earning promotion via the Championship play-offs in his first season.
However, now the hard work really starts, as Russell Martin must put in the hours on the training field with his players as well as assemble a squad capable of Premier League survival through the transfer market.
It has been a busy start to the summer in that regard, with veteran free agent duo Adam Lallana and Charlie Taylor arriving, as well as a trio of centre-backs in Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ronnie Edwards and Nathan Wood.
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Now, Southampton are reportedly close to getting a deal finalised for an exciting young talent whose signing could hint at the role Taylor has been signed for.
Southampton set to complete signing of Welington shortly
Southamptons players and staff returned for pre-season last week and the club could now be set to add another new face to the group.
That is according to Brazilian outlet UOL, who report that Southampton are close to exchanging contracts with the 23-year-old left back on a pre-contract signing given his deal with São Paulo is set to expire at the end of this year.
However, it is suggested that Southampton could look to accelerate Welington’s arrival by then agreeing a cut-price fee with São Paulo to bring the Brazilian to St Mary’s this summer.
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Welington arrival could mean Charlie Taylor plays centre-back
With the arrival of Taylor last week, Southampton now have Taylor, Ryan Manning, Juan Larios and Jayden Meghoma as left-back options.
Given Larios has not played since an injury sustained in October 2022 and Meghoma is only 18, it made sense that Taylor was signed for free to provide Manning with competition for the starting role.
However, Welington’s imminent arrival could mean Martin has a different plan for Taylor than what was first assumed.
Manning struggled to recreate his Swansea City form at the Saints last season and it is widely agreed amongst the fanbase that an upgrade at left-back was required this summer.
Taylor could well be that, with former manager Sean Dyche describing him as a “very powerful defender” who is “very good one v one.”
With Taylor’s arrival it was fairly assumed that Martin would enter the season with Taylor and Manning competing for the left-back role, but Welington’s addition could be a clue to a tactical plan Martin has for the forthcoming campaign.
Martin shifted form his favoured 4-3-3 formation at the backend of last season to play with a back three.
This was a fluid shape that often still resembled a 4-3-3 in possession, but without the ball was a definitive back three with wingbacks.
Taylor is left-footed and has played as a centre-back whilst under Vincent Kompany at Burnley.
Therefore, Martin could be planning to use Taylor as the left centre-back in a back three, with his ability to shift across to left-back meaning the Saints can still change to a back four in possession.
That would then explain the manager’s desire to add another left-back in Welington, who could replace Manning in the starting XI to operate as a left wingback.