Southampton still have plenty to play for between now and the end of the current campaign.
Despite a recent dip in form, the Saints are still in the battle for promotion back to the Premier League this season.
They are also set to travel to Anfield this week, to face Liverpool in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
However, they may already need to be looking ahead to some of the business they may have to do in the summer transfer window.
Over the weekend, it was reported that Tottenham may have to make a move to re-sign Kyle Walker-Peters from Southampton.
Spurs are competing for a place in European football for next season. However, they do not currently have enough club-trained players in their squad to meet regulations.
As a result, if they were to secure qualification for Europe, they may have to make a move for Walker-Peters – who came through their academy – to fill one of those spots.
Tottenham do apparently have a buyback clause for the right-back, which could see them re-sign him from Southampton for £30million.
It would of course, be a big blow for the Saints to lose such an important player. So with that in mind, we’ve taken a look at three replacements for the 26-year-old that they could target in the summer, if Walker-Peters does return to Tottenham.
Ethan Laird has stood out this season
While it has been a tough campaign for Birmingham City, one player who has impressed at St Andrew’s is Ethan Laird.
The right-back has been a solid performer for Blues throughout the campaign. Indeed, the stats show they are a much more successful team when he is playing.
As a result, he could be a more than useful option to come into fill the void that might be left by Walker-Peters. It is also worth noting that like the current Southampton man, Laird too can play at left-back if required. That too, could make him a solid option for Russell Martin‘s side.
Trai Hume has become key for Sunderland
It was initially something of a slow start for Trai Hume after he joined Sunderland back in the 2022 January trasfer window.
However, the Northern Irishman has rapidly developed into a key man for the Black Cats. Indeed, former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray has previously described him as a ‘talent’ and a ‘high-quality player’.
Hume has become an influential part in Sunderland’s recent efforts to secure a Championship play-off place. That may ensure he can make a similar positive impact at Southampton, especially considering that at 21-years-old, he has plenty more time to develop as well.
Bali Mumba is an exciting player
Having played an important role in their promotion from League One last season, Bali Mumba completed a permanent move to Plymouth Argyle in the summer.
Since then, the 22-year-old has remained a key outlet for the Pilgrims. His ability to get forward and make an impact in attack, has made him an enjoyable player to watch, and an important one at that.
The fact he is now settling in nicely at Championship level highlights the potential he has to go even further in his career. Beyond that, Mumba is another player who is capable of operating in a variety of positions, although he is primarily a right-back. As a result, this eye-catching prospect could be another who may be capable of doing a job for Southampton if Walker-Peters moves on.