With the transfer window closing in next Wednesday, Southampton find themselves linked with yet another right winger.
Having made history by beating Swansea City on Saturday and subsequently going 20 league games unbeaten, Southampton are showing no signs of resting on their laurels as they look to strengthen their squad ready for a promotion battle.
Joe Rothwell is currently the only player that Russell Martin‘s side have signed this month, making his debut on Saturday having joined on loan from Bournemouth last week. Martin has stated that Rothwell will make his first start for the club on Sunday in the FA Cup fourth round tie with Watford, but Southampton fans will be hoping to see one or two more new faces in action soon.
The priority this month has always been a right winger and names such as Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, Bournemouth’s David Brooks and Burnley’s Manuel Benson have all been mentioned. Deals for Diallo and Brooks now seem very unlikely, whilst the future of Benson remains unclear.
However, it would appear Southampton are turning their attention in their search for a right winger elsewhere, with the Saints one of a number of clubs being linked with a six-month loan for Celtic attacker Liel Abada.
What is the latest on Southampton links with Liel Abada?
Liel Abada is not the first player from the Scottish Premier League that Southampton have been linked with this month, with Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland also reportedly interesting the Saints.
Whilst Hearts would only consider letting Shankland leave permanently, Abada may be available for loan and the temporary nature of the deal represents a much lower risk option to bolster Martin’s attacking options until the end of the season.
The Daily Mail reports that Southampton, along with fellow Championship clubs Watford and West Brom, are exploring the possibility of taking the striker capped ten times by Israel on loan. Celtic are potentially open to the move due to Abada enduring a “challenging” six months due to injury and the situation in his home country.
In his two previous seasons in the Scottish top flight, Abada has scored ten league goals in both campaigns; with five assists last season and seven the year before. The Israeli wide player has scored one goal and provided one assist in the SPL this season, having only played six games due to a torn thigh muscle. Now that he is fit again, Abada has finds himself down the pecking order under Brendan Rodgers and a loan move could be best for all parties.
Why are Southampton interested in signing Abada?
Southampton sold Nathan Tella to Bayer Leverkusen for £20 million in the summer and have not replaced the Nigeria international, meaning Adam Armstrong has played on the right of the attack for the majority of the season. Armstrong had performed this role very well and has been a real bright spark under Martin this season, his 14 league goals evidence of the confidence he currently has.
However, the fact that links of a cut-price move for Che Adams are refusing to go away due to his contract situation means that Armstrong may have to move back to the central striker role and Abada could be the perfect man to take his spot on the right wing.
Abada is a right-footed winger with electric pace and is very good technically. Speaking when Abada’s sale to Celtic had been agreed from Israeli side Maccabi Petah Kivka, the selling club’s manager Guy Luzon described Abada as: “one of the greatest young talents I have ever seen in my time in football”.
Luzon went on to say: “He was put in my team on merit and I will tell you why – he is the best finisher in the Israeli league and by a wide margin.
Liel is still young but he is very mature for his age. He’s an outstanding prospect who is certain to have a very good future in this game.”
Abada would be a loan signing worth getting excited about for the Saints and his ability to also play up front could make his a really useful asset.
If Southampton do manage to secure the signing of a right winger this window and no major departures happen in the last week of the window – particularly with interest in a big move for star man Kyle Walker-Peters – then Martin will undoubtedly be delighted with the club’s business this winter.