Southampton could look to explore the free agent market in a bid to improve their squad this summer.
With Russell Martin‘s side currently fourth in the Championship with ten games remaining, it is difficult to plan for next season without knowing which division they will be playing in.
However, a safe bet – especially with a number of clubs growing increasingly concerned with Financial Fair Play – is to look at players whose contracts are due to expire this summer and will therefore be available for free.
Southampton themselves look set to lose a player this way, with reports that Wolves are looking to take Che Adams to Molineux once his contract ends when the current campaign reaches its conclusion. Many expected Adams to leave for a cut-price fee in January given his contract situation, but he has remained at St Mary’s to help with their promotion bid.
With this in mind, here are three players Southampton could look to sign when they become available for free this summer.
Josh Brownhill could bolster Southampton midfield
The first player is midfielder Josh Brownhill, who is a member of the Burnley side who are having a torrid time in the Premier League despite winning the Championship with ease last season.
The 28-year-old should be entering his prime and his experience of both Premier League and Championship football could provide real value regardless of which league Southampton occupy next season.
He is a tenacious centre midfielder who would add real physicality to the Southampton midfield which can at times lack a bit of steel. According to FBREF, in the last year Brownhill averages 1.29 interceptions per 90 minutes (top 26% of midfielders in the Premier League), makes 2.14 tackles per game (top 39%) and makes 1.60 clearances (top 30%).
Speaking on Brownhill shortly after his Burnley debut in September 2020, then manager Sean Dyche described the player by saying: “Boundless energy, will and desire, and he’s a good footballer. I’ve been really pleased with how he’s come through.”
Despite his quality out of possession, Brownhill can also play further forward and has operated as an attacking midfielder at various points throughout his career. His three goals and two assists in all competitions this season for a struggling side show he can make an impact in the final third and be a useful asset.
With Stuart Armstrong now 31 and also out of contract in the summer, Carlos Alcaraz‘ future up in the air and Flynn Downes currently only on loan until the end of the season, getting Brownhill to make the move down south could be really good business for Southampton.
Ben Johnson continues to be linked with Southampton move
It feels as though West Ham United’s Ben Johnson is linked with a move to the Saints every transfer window, but could this summer finally see the move come to fruition?
Johnson is 24 now and it appears increasingly unlikely that the full-back will sign new terms at the East London club. The England under-21 international is at a stage of his career where he needs to play regularly and Southampton could provide him the opportunity to do exactly that; especially if talismanic defender Kyle Walker-Peters moves on in the summer.
Johnson’s ability to play right-back, left-back, centre-back and even in midfield – as we have seen on a couple of occasions this season – make him an attractive option, particularly given the lack of depth Martin currently has at full-back.
One factor that could scupper any chance of completing a deal is the reported interest of Crystal Palace. With Palace currently sat eight points clear of the Premier League relegation zone and results improving since Oliver Glasner replaced Roy Hodgson as manager, it looks very likely they will be in the top flight next season. Given this, combined with the London location and Palace’s own problems in the full-back areas, it is a move that could tempt Johnson and talks between the two parties are said to be “advanced”.
Johnson has played 103 games for West Ham but has started just four league games this season, so it is not surprising he sees his future elsewhere. If Southampton are promoted it does of course make the club a much more interesting proposition, but perhaps Martin could persuade the defender with the lure of being a key player.
Southampton interested in Callum O’Hare
Coventry City’s Callum O’Hare is another player Southampton are said to be keeping an eye on, with it being reported in January that the club are monitoring the attacking midfielder’s situation.
With an anterior cruciate ligament injury keeping him out since Boxing Day 2022, O’Hare has been making up for lost time with nine goals and four assists in just 16 starts in all competitions since his return in late October.
Having started his career at Aston Villa, the next move for the once-capped England under-20 international is undoubtedly to the Premier League. Therefore, any potential move to Martin’s Southampton is likely to be contingent on the St Mary’s club achieving promotion.
Coventry themselves could yet achieve promotion, with the Sky Blues currently just four points off the play-offs with a game in hand, but it seems unlikely the 25-year-old will extend his stay at the club he has represented 173 times beyond this summer.
O’Hare is very comfortable in possession and constantly looks to create openings for either himself or his fellow attacking players so could be the player to take on the advanced role of Martin’s favoured three-man midfield. There will undoubtedly be plenty of competition for the mercurial midfielder’s signature this summer, though.