It has been summer of change at Southampton, as 14 first-team players were signed to help Russell Martin’s bid to keep the club in the Premier League.
The likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Ben Brereton Diaz and Mateus Fernandes all came in, whilst permanent deals were sorted for last season’s loan trio Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Flynn Downes and Ryan Fraser.
However, it was not all about incomings at Southampton, with nine first-team players leaving either permanently, on loan, or at the end of their contracts.
Two players fit the latter category in Scotland duo Che Adams and Stuart Armstrong.
Adams’ future was one of the sagas of the summer at Southampton, with a contract offer on the table as well as interest from various clubs before the striker eventually secured a surprise move to Torino.
Armstrong is still without a new club having left the Saints at the end of his deal in June, but that could be about to change.
Stuart Armstrong ‘offered’ Vancouver Whitecaps move after leaving Southampton
Armstrong was a key member of the Southampton side that won promotion under Russell Martin last season, playing 42 Championship games, scoring five and assisting seven.
Unfortunately for both player and club, Armstrong was absent for the end of the season play-off triumph due to an injury sustained late against Cardiff City in April in what would prove to be his last appearance for the club.
The 32-year-old was a real fan favourite at St Mary’s and it is unclear whose decision it was for the midfielder not to sign a contract extension.
Armstrong has been training with Brentford this summer as he seeks a resolution to his future but could now be set for a swansong in the MLS with Vancouver Whitecaps.
That is according to The Sun, who report that the Canadian club have ‘offered’ Armstrong a place as one of their designated foreign players.
This would see the man who spent six seasons at Southampton link up with former Dundee United and Scotland team-mate Ryan Gauld in Vancouver.
Armstrong ‘fantastic’ for Southampton as they earned Championship promotion
In the two seasons prior to Southampton being relegated from the Premier League in 2023 Armstrong had struggled with injuries and did not appear physically capable of playing two games in a week.
However, he put this notion firmly to bed last season as he played in every single league game up until he missed the 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers in the 42nd Championship fixture of the season.
Armstrong would have been gutted to miss the play-offs as he deserved the fairytale end to a Southampton career in which he provided so much joy with his driving runs and tendency to score from range.
Martin was well aware of the former Celtic man’s qualities and described Armstrong as “fantastic” when confirming he would miss the end of the season after Cardiff.
The MLS looks the perfect place for Armstrong to see out his playing days and there are certainly worse places to do that than Vancouver.