A Chelsea midfielder is ‘set to join Southampton’ after a recent breakthrough.
The Saints’ Premier League campaign is set to kick-off as they face a gruelling trip to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United, where they will be hoping to provide an upset and build on last season’s successes.
Russell Martin’s side are set up fairly well this season in terms of signings, particularly on the defensive front.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Ronnie Edwards have both added depth and quality to the centre-back position, whilst also providing a potentially brilliant future English defensive partnership.
Other notable signings this summer include the likes of Flynn Downes, who has returned following his successful loan spell with Southampton last season, as well as Ben Brereton Diaz, who has joined the club following a spell on loan at former Premier League side Sheffield United, where he bagged six goals.
With the Saints shaping up fairly well, whilst still needing extra attackers in the side, they are set to bolster their options even further with the loan of a Premier League midfielder.
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Southampton set to sign Lesley Ugochukwu on loan from Chelsea
Southampton are reportedly set to sign Chelsea youngster Lesley Ugochukwu on loan, reports Fabrizio Romano on X.
The midfielder is ‘set to join’ Southampton in a deal that will not include a buy option, with the French U21 midfielder viewed as a key part of Chelsea’s long term plans.
Chelsea signed the youngster for a whopping £23m last summer after impressing at a young age for Ligue 1 side Rennes, however has since gone on to make just 12 Premier League appearances for the Blues, three of which were starts.
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Should Lesley Ugochukwu’s lack of game time be an issue
There is no doubt that the Chelsea midfielder has been under-utilised during his time at the club, and as a result, there would be no surprises if his abilities have been hampered as a result.
At his age, it is crucial that he is getting regular game time, and that is far from what he was given throughout the 2023/24 Premier League season.
It is clear that during his time at Rennes he proved that he will be able to live up to the quality of the Premier League, and do so if he has the confidence to play in the centre-of-the-park.
It will be key that Russell Martin doesn’t rush him into the starting 11, but rather nurtures his talent and aids his development with small doses of game time until he is fully match fit to play 90 minutes regularly, and the Southampton boss is able to do so as a result of the brilliant depth at defensive-midfield this season.