Southampton have now returned to training ahead of what will be a busy summer of preparing for a Premier League return.
Having had his new contract confirmed on Tuesday, Russell Martin is set to experience his first taste of the English top flight as a manager, having played in the division for Norwich City.
The Southampton boss was twice relegated from the Premier League as a player but looks determined to avoid the same fate as a manager with owners Sport Republic making a strong start to the transfer window.
The club saw Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ loan become officially permanent on Monday, with Adam Lallana and Charlie Taylor both having joined for free.
Martin also looks set to bolster his defensive options with a bargain double deal for young EFL centre-backs Ronnie Edwards and Nathan Wood imminently to continue the summer business.
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However, Southampton are yet to make a really marquee signing to announce their top flight return.
That could be about to change with a move for Celtic’s Matt O’Riley and the Saints should not hesitate to spend big on the midfielder for one key reason.
Southampton keen on Celtic’s Matt O’Riley
As reported at the start of the week, Southampton are preparing to make their first significant purchase of the summer with the club readying a £20 million bid for Celtic ace O’Riley.
Martin is keen on a reunion for the player he managed in his first job at MK Dons, with his development since his £1.5m move to Scotland in January 2022 continuing at a remarkable pace.
Celtic are bracing themselves for interest in the Denmark international, but are said to be holding out for closer to £30 million after rejecting Atletico Madrid’s advances in January.
With 19 goals and 18 assists in 49 games in all competitions for the Scottish champions last season, it is easy to see why Martin is so keen to bring O’Riley to St Mary’s.
Whilst there is sometimes a snobbery in football regarding players’ ability to recreate their form in Scotland south of the border, history should tell Southampton this is a move that should work out.
Southampton have enjoyed recent success from buying players from Celtic
If O’Riley does swap Celtic Park for St Mary’s this summer, he will be walking a well-trodden path.
In the past 11 years, Southampton have signed four players from Celtic; Fraser Forster, Victor Wanyama, Virgil van Dijk and Stuart Armstrong all having made the same move.
The reassuring thing for Martin and Southampton is that all four have been a resounding success at the club.
Forster made 162 appearances for the Saints, earning England recognition in the process, before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2022, whilst Wanyama made the same move after 97 games in red and white.
Van Dijk was imperious in his time at Southampton and made a £75 million move to Liverpool in January 2018 for what was a world record transfer fee for a defender at the time.
Armstrong spent six years at the Saints, culminating in promotion via the play-offs last season.
Unfortunately, the 32-year-old missed the end of the season through injury, but the part he played in helping Southampton to an instant Premier League return cannot be overstated.
Now confirmed to have left the club following the expiration of his contract, Armstrong will be fondly remembered amongst the St Mary’s faithful.
All four of these signings should give Southampton the comfort they need to go all out for the signing of O’Riley and he could prove to be the creative force needed to stay in the top flight this season.