Southampton manager Russell Martin’s recent comments could spell the end for one attacker struggling for gametime.
Despite a flurry of arrivals this summer to get Southampton fit and prepared for the 2024/25 Premier League season, Russell Martin’s side are certainly not slowing down in their ongoing pursuit to bring extra recruits through the door.
Defensive signings Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Ronnie Edwards have brought plenty of promise to Southampton, with the latter looking to adapt to Premier League football after starring in League One for Peterborough.
Attacking signings have also been made, such as the likes of Ben Brereton-Diaz, who has arrived on a permanent deal from Villarreal following his half-a-season loan spell at relegated Premier League outfit Sheffield United.
However, Martin certainly isn’t slowing down in bringing attacking signings in, with the former Swansea City manager’s comments potentially spelling bad news for one Southampton attacker.
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Russell Martin’s ‘obvious’ desire for attackers could spell bad news for Southampton attacker Ross Stewart
Martin has made it clear that, despite recent signings, Southampton will continue to monitor attacking targets and hopefully bring extra depth in before the summer transfer window closes.
The current crop of Southampton attackers have been deemed as inefficient to Martin, as he suggested that ‘it is pretty evident and obvious that it [attack] is an area we will definitely highlight’.
This could potentially spell bad news for Southampton and former Sunderland striker Ross Stewart, who was recently absent from the recent open training session held at St Mary’s, despite the fact that he had been involved in what was ‘two really good weeks’ of pre-season.
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Has Ross Stewart shown enough to earn a space in Southampton’s squad
Many will see the benefits of Martin looking to bring more bodies through the door, especially in attack, which could see the Saints bolster his attacking options is Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who the Saints have already previously made a bid in the region of £7million for.
However, for Stewart, it could spell the end of his tenure at the Saints, who may look to move on the Scottish international to free up funds.
Although on the surface his injury record has plagued his spell at St Mary’s, he has clearly shown goalscoring potentially previous to his arrival at Southampton, in particular at Sunderland, where he was prolific in the Championship.
Stewart, through no fault of his own, has never shown or had the opportunity to show his talents, meaning it is do or die in pre-season.
Stewart must go above and beyond in persuading Martin to keep him in his Premier League plans, otherwise it would be likely to see the Scotsman moved on elsewhere.