Russell Martin is keen to sign another holding midfielder for Southampton this summer despite the club securing the permanent arrival of Flynn Downes.
Russell Martin’s admiration of Flynn Downes is no secret, with the Southampton manager’s priority this summer making the midfielder’s loan move from West Ham United last season permanent.
That was achieved as Southampton paid £18 million for Downes, a fee that few who watched him in a Saints shirt last season would argue with.
Currently the only natural alternative to Downes is Shea Charles, but Martin often opted to move the naturally more attacking Will Smallbone back to fill in when Downes was absent rather than trusting the youngster.
Charles could be used as part of a deal to sign Matt O’Riley from Celtic this summer, but even if that does not materialise Martin does not trust the 20-year-old just yet.
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That has seen Southampton explore their options in the midfield anchor role and they have now made their interest in one player concrete with an offer.
Southampton see bid rejected for Royal Antwerp midfielder Mandela Keita
Martin is primarily eyeing attacking reinforcements before the end of the transfer window, but that does not mean there are not other areas of his Southampton squad he wants to address.
An alternative to Downes seems to be on the summer shopping list and that has been evidenced by a move for Royal Antwerp midfielder Mandela Keita.
That is according to journalist Sacha Tavolieiri, who posted on ‘X’: “Royal Antwerp just rejected a bid from Southampton for Mandela Keita!
“First offer sent by Saints is a loan with mandatory option [to buy] up to €12 million (£10.3m) under conditions.
“Great Old [Antwerp] collaborating and open to making progress on the operation.
“Keita attracts several clubs on the market in Premier League watching at him this summer.
“Wait and see.”
Keita would help Southampton resolve Flynn Downes concern
The conditions of the loan with obligation to buy are not disclosed at this stage but this is likely to hinge on whether Southampton survive in the Premier League this season.
With Antwerp still open to negotiation, the Saints should not give up on a deal for a player who gained Champions League experience last season.
Given he is just 22, Keita’s value is only likely to rise, with the one-cap Belgium international described to Het Nieuwsbladas as a player who is “very intelligent and picks things up quickly” by his former coach at Leuven, Marc Brys.
Brys went on to add: “He listens and develops at a fairly high pace.
“He holds his own, leads and is often free (to receive the ball). Mandela Keita is a natural talent and plays on intuition.”
Southampton won just two of their ten league games when Downes was absent last season, so it is clear that Martin needs a capable deputy for the 25-year-old.
According to football database FBRef, Keita is one of the ten most statistically similar midfielders to Downes in world football which highlights why this is a deal Southampton are looking to get done.
Downes boasted better pass completion stats than Keita last season – with 93% to Keita’s 89.4% – but the Antwerp man’s accuracy should not be scoffed at.
The pair also registered incredibly similar tackle success rates, with Downes dispossessing his opponent with 57.9% of his tackles to Keita’s 56.3%.
With their similarities clear, Downes could prove the perfect player for Keita to learn off before stepping into the former Swansea City mans’ shoes when required, or perhaps even partnering him against the better sides.