Southampton are really looking to ensure they get value for their money this summer ahead of a return to the Premier League.
Russell Martin has already welcomed the Premier League experience of both Adam Lallana and Charlie Taylor for free following the expiration of their respective contracts at Brighton and Burnley.
Southampton did shell out £20 million to secure the permanent signing of Taylor Harwood-Bellis after the terms of his loan meant they were obligated to complete the deal from Manchester City following promotion.
Harwood-Bellis is joined in the defensive recruits by 21-year-old centre-back Ronnie Edwards, who Southampton picked up for a bargain £3 million plus add-ons on Wednesday.
- READ MORE: Southampton’s bargain swoop surely spells the end for player who Russell Martin dubbed ‘the boss’
Now, Martin is turning his attention to firepower up front and could do so with another cut-price deal for a striker who has just had their best ever season.
Southampton targeting £500k move for Martin Braithwaite
Southampton’s squad currently looks a little light up top, with just Adam Armstrong, Ross Stewart and Sekou Mara available.
- READ MORE: What Russell Martin hilariously joked about to Adam Armstrong as Southampton start pre-season
Che Adams’ future remains uncertain, with the club continuing to negotiate with the striker following the end of his deal, but it is reasonable to assume the 27-year-old won’t be at the club next season.
Therefore, Martin wants at least one new striker through the door and that has taken the club to Espanyol striker Martin Braithwaite.
That is according to Spanish news outlet AS, who report that Southampton ‘interested’ in a move for the 33-year-old striker who is fresh off the back of a season in which he scored 22 goals and provided three assists to get Espanyol promoted to La Liga.
Espanyol ‘will try to retain’ the Danish striker, but the fact he has a release clause of just £500k makes him a very attractive proposition for Southampton and they could pounce to sign the striker this summer.
Braithwaite a risk for Southampton despite Barcelona past
Signing Braithwaite would represent a risk for the Saints, albeit a low cost one.
Having had a relatively average career, Braithwaite secured a shock £15 million move to Barcelona in 2020; made all the more surprising by the fact it was done outside the transfer window.
That is because La Liga allowed the Catalan club to make an emergency signing in February due to a season-ending injury to Ousmane Dembele.
What made this signing even more controversial was the fact that the club Barca signed Braithwaite from, Leganes, were relegated following his departure.
A stop-gap singing for Barcelona, Braithwaite scored just five La Liga goals for the Spanish giants before moving to city-rivals Espanyol in 2022.
Despite his low fee, there is reason to be sceptical about a move for Braithwaite.
At 33, he is experienced but he has never been prolific.
Until last season’s 22 goals in Spain’s second tier, Braithwaite’s best tally was 11 league goals in a season; a feat he achieved in Ligue 1 in 2016/17.
Most worrying is that Braithwaite has had a previous spell in England, signing for Middlesbrough in 2018 but failed to impress as he scored eight goals in 38 Championship games before being allowed to leave permanently after two years.
With that in mind, Southampton should be very wary of hinging their goalscoring hopes on 33-year-old Braithwaite even if he is fresh off his best ever scoring season.