Russell Martin wants to add to his attacking options after watching his Southampton side draw a blank against ten-man Newcastle United in their Premier League opener.
Southampton were boosted ahead of the Newcastle clash as the arrivals of Lesley Ogochukwu and Cameron Archer were confirmed late on Friday.
The pair took the number of first-team signings Russell Martin has made this summer to ten, with Archer going straight into the squad for Saturday where he made his debut off the bench in the 1-0 defeat at St James’ Park.
Exciting Portugal youngster Mateus Fernandes looks set to become the 11th arrival imminently, but Martin is in no mood to stop there as he looks to finalise his squad ready to battle for Premier League survival.
- READ MORE: Who is Mateus Fernandes? The ‘complete’ £16m gem set to become Southampton’s 11th summer signing
Once the Fernandes deal is complete, the Saints are likely to look to add a goalkeeper and winger to conclude their summer business and they could head to Belgium to secure the latter.
Southampton ‘monitoring’ Gent attacker Matias Fernandez-Pardo
Last season Southampton had Ryan Fraser and David Brooks on loan to boost their options in the wide areas.
Fraser making that move permanent this summer looked a foregone conclusion but as the window has gone on that now looks far less likely to materialise.
That leaves Martin with just the injured Kamaldeen Sulemana, Samuel Edozie and 18-year-old Sam Amo-Ameyaw as natural wingers at the club; although both Ben Brereton Diaz and Adam Armstrong can play wide.
- READ MORE: Russell Martin shares return timeframe of injured Southampton trio, including Adam Lallana
With that in mind, it is no surprise Southampton are pursuing a winger and it looks like the club are prepared to battle with Liverpool and Leicester City to sign Gent’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
That is according to National World Football Editor Chris Wheatley, who posted on X: “Liverpool, Leicester, and Southampton are monitoring highly-rated 19-year-old Gent forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
“Represented solely by his father, the youngster could be set for a summer exit ahead of the 30 August deadline.”
Southampton lack of experience in wide positions not addressed by Fernandez-Pardo signing
Of the previously mentioned wingers at Southampton, Sulemana is 22, Edozie is 21 and Amo-Ameyaw is 18.
That leaves Martin not just light on options out wide but also very short on experience.
Fernandez-Pardo does not help with that issue, with the 19-year-old having played just 27 senior games in his short career so far.
- READ MORE: Matias Fernandez-Pardo expert verdict as Southampton told exactly how much it’ll take to open talks
However, the Belgian is clearly a talent having scored ten goals in those appearances and provided two assists.
It would also continue the theme of Southampton signing players who are tactically flexible, with Fernandez-Pardo able to play as a centre-forward as well as on either flank.
A deal does not appear close at this stage but this is certainly one to keep an eye on before the end of the transfer window.