Southampton have made a surprise move for a player who was widely expected to be heading to the Championship this summer.
Southampton fans will no doubt be very excited on Wednesday morning following the unveiling of Flynn Downes at the club’s kit release event on Tuesday night.
Downes was Russell Martin’s top transfer target this summer and, with his arrival confirmed, everyone associated with the club can breathe a deep sigh of relief.
The 25-year-old who was one of Southampton’s best players whilst on loan last season was the seventh arrival at St Mary’s already this summer as the Saints look to prepare for the Premier League.
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However, it has now emerged that the club are interested in shock move for a player they previously enquired about taking on loan in January.
Southampton ‘have asked’ Crystal Palace for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
That player Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, the 21-year-old Crystal Palace winger who has played eight Premier League games.
Given his lack of experience and the fact he is unlikely to be depended on by Palace manager Oliver Glasner in the upcoming season, it has been assumed that Rak-Sakyi would be allowed to join a Championship club on loan this summer.
However, Southampton may give the player an opportunity to show his talents in the top flight.
That is according to journalist Alan Nixon, who revealed on his Patreon: ‘Southampton are making a shock inquiry for Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.
Saints have asked for the wide man on loan along with several Championship sides but they may go back with a cash offer to buy’.
Palace are by no means against allowing the youngster to go on loan, with Nixon revealing they had actually ‘cleared’ him to ‘speak to the likes of Hull, QPR and Sheffield United before the surprise development’.
It may be difficult for Southampton to convince Palace to loan a player to a Premier League rival, though, with Nixon claiming: ‘Palace won’t be keen to send Rak-Sakyi on a loan basis but may yet be willing to sell if a legend offer came along’.
Rak-Sakyi a ‘talent’ but a risk for Southampton
It is clear that Southampton need wingers this summer.
Currently, the only two senior wide men in the squad are Kamaldeen Sulemana and Samuel Edozie, with it highly possible the Saints sell Sulemana this summer.
Adam Armstrong played wide for the majority of last season and loanee Ryan Fraser is expected to return, although it has gone very quiet regarding his anticipated move from Newcastle United.
In Rak-Sakyi, Martin would receive a highly-rated young talent who scored 15 goals and provided eight assists on loan at Charlton in League One in the 2022/23 season.
Former Palace boss Patrick Vieira was impressed with then 18-year-old Rak-Sakyi in pre-season in 2021, saying when he scored against Charlton in a 2-2 friendly draw: “Jes [Jesurun] showed a lot of desire and he got rewarded by the goal.
“He showed fantastic talent – he’s been working with us for quite a while now. He’s one of the young players who shows that he’s excited to be around the first team.
“I want this kind of spirit from these young players, showing determination and today he and some of the other ones did really well.”
The right-winger has struggled to make his mark at Palace since then and would represent a real risk for Southampton unless there is also a more marquee winger in the pipeline given his lack of top level experience.