Whilst Southampton may feel they have work to do themselves in the transfer window, news of West Ham signing Kalvin Phillips on loan could have a positive knock-on effect for the club’s future plans.
Reports suggest that Manchester City are willing to allow Phillips to join the Hammers until the summer, with the two clubs agreeing an option to buy clause in the agreement.
This could be very good news for Southampton, as they will be desperate to extend Flynn Downes‘s stay beyond the summer and strike up a permanent deal for the man who has been imperious in the centre of midfield this season whilst on loan from West Ham.
Phillips has had a tough time at City, with Pep Guardiola reluctant to give the England international opportunities at the club. With the European Championships in the summer and Phillip’s career stalling since leaving Leeds United, the move is one that makes sense for all parties.
Downes has already become a fan favourite at St Mary’s and has really set the standard having played for Russell Martin previously at Swansea. The 25-year-old scored his first goal for the club in Saturday’s record-breaking win, which took the Saints to 20 league games unbeaten.
Will Southampton sign Flynn Downes in the summer?
The loan deal that saw Downes join Southampton in the summer included no obligation – or even option – to make the move permanent.
Having only started seven Premier League games in his debut season at West Ham last year, any hopes of Downes’ role increasing following the summer sale of Declan Rice quickly dissipated as David Moyes signed Edson Alvarez and Southampton’s own James Ward-Prowse rather than trusting Downes.
Downes is not only loved by the fans at Southampton, but manager Martin cannot speak highly enough of the holding midfielder. Speaking after a win over Birmingham City in October, Martin said: “Flynn has been monstrous. Physically he is a beast and he has so much composure on the ball. His teammates really appreciate the role that he has because it’s so tough being that guy”.
“It’s not a position that we develop well in England. We haven’t really produced a world-class one. In other countries, they have players like Rodri because that role is vital when you are playing positional play”.
If Downes is available for Southampton then he plays, it really is that simple. He has struggled with illness on a couple of occasions this season but in a midfield packed with options, he is irreplaceable in Martin’s side. Shea Charles is Downes’ natural understudy and has made a promising start to his Southampton career, whilst Stuart Armstrong provides the driving force, but it is Downes who is the metronome in the middle, setting the tempo for Southampton.
With Phillips joining a midfield that already consists of options such as Ward-Prowse, Alvarez, Tomas Souček, Lucas Paqueta, and most recently even Ben Johnson – the player perennially linked with a move to Saints showing he can step into midfield – it is difficult to see where Downes fits.
That being said, any potential permanent move for Downes likely relies almost solely on Southampton being promoted this season. Should Southampton achieve that goal, the prospect of being a guaranteed starter in a Premier League side under a manager that appreciates him will be hard to turn down for Downes.
Perhaps the only sticking point is the fact that Downes is a boyhood West Ham fan and his desire to make the grade at the club he loves has the potential to cloud his judgement on what is best for his career.