Southampton fans can expect a busy end to the summer transfer window as Russell Martin looks to improve his squad for the 2024/25 season.
11 first-team signings have already been made at Southampton, with Aaron Ramsdale set to become the 12th.
The England international’s arrival is perhaps the most significant, with Ramsdale a significant upgrade on Southampton’s current goalkeepers.
With the biggest priority before Friday’s 11pm transfer deadline resolved, Russell Martin can shift his focus to any additional improvements he can make to his squad.
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Southampton ‘hunting’ attacking players ahead of transfer window closing
Southampton are yet to score in the Premier League in their two matches following a return to the top flight.
The lack of creativity in the side was highlighted to an alarming degree as Martin’s side managed just one shot on target against Nottingham Forest as they lost their second consecutive Premier League game 1-0 last weekend.
With a completely changed XI, the goals flowed in South Wales as Southampton beat Cardiff City 5-3 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night but Martin still feels he needs more firepower.
That is according to the Daily Echo, who claimed in their report on the Ramsdale deal that Southampton ‘are also hunting attacking reinforcements’.
Southampton in ‘discussions’ to sign Toulouse winger Zakaria Aboukhlal
Ben Brereton Diaz, Cameron Archer and Mateus Fernandes have all been brought in this summer to help in the final third.
However, Martin is very short on wingers and could also push to get another striker through the door before the deadline.
The winger search appears to have taken the club to France, with L’Equipe reporting that Southampton ‘are working to convince Toulouse to let go of its Moroccan international Zakaria Aboukhlal’.
The Ligue 1 side are looking to sign former Bournemouth attacker Joshua King and are therefore minded to consider selling Aboukhlal before the transfer window closes.
The two clubs have ‘opened discussions’ regarding a move for the 24-year-old who missed most of last season with an ACL injury.
The potential fee is not yet known, but a move for Aboukhlal is unlikely to break the bank for Southampton who are set to spend big on Ramsdale.
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Who is Southampton target Zakaria Aboukhlal?
Aboukhlal is an exciting wide player who is equally comfortable on either foot but marginally stronger on his left.
This makes him a real asset as the Toulouse man can operate on either flank and gives Martin a versatile option; especially as he can also play centre-forward.
Aboukhlal was part of the Morocco side that got all the way to the World Cup semi-final in 2022 and has 21 international caps to his name.
Analyst Ben Mattinson has described Aboukhlal as a “very technical winger who’s great in 1v1s, two-footed, skilful, creative and can score goals.”
The tricky winger scored three goals in 15 league games last season in a campaign disrupted by injury, but recorded an impressive 15 goals and five assists in 42 competitive matches in 2022/23 to show he has the end product to match his flair.