Russell Martin is looking to add the finishing touches to his Southampton squad ahead of the start of the Premier League season.
So far, Russell Martin has welcomed eight first-team arrivals at Southampton this summer, with defence the obvious priority at the start of the window.
Five of those eight players are defenders, with Flynn Downes a holding midfield player.
That means that Adam Lallana and latest addition Ben Brereton Diaz are the only attack-minded players to join the St Mary’s club this summer.
That is something Martin desperately wants to change in the last month of the transfer window, with Matt O’Riley and Fabio Carvalho just two of the attacking players the club are credited with interest in.
However, Southampton could miss out on one of their targets for the wide areas as the player’s club are only interested in sanctioning a loan deal to a Championship club.
Southampton look set to miss out on signing Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
Southampton surprised Crystal Palace with a £7 million bid for 21-year-old Jesurun Rak-Sakyi earlier this summer.
With just eight Premier League appearances to his name, Palace were expecting to agree a loan for the young winger with a Championship club to gain more senior experience.
However, Southampton threw a curveball with their bid and showed their intent by following this up with a second bid of around £12 million.
Despite his lack of first-team opportunities at Selhurst Park, Rak-Sakyi is highly-rated at the club and it appears Crystal Palace are reluctant to sanction a permanent exit in what is a blow for the Saints.
That is according to journalist Alan Nixon, who claimed via his Patreon: “Southampton’s bid to buy Rak-Sakyi has been turned down as Palace do not want to sell and prefer a Championship loan.”
Southampton cannot afford to wait for Rak-Sakyi if Crystal Palace reluctant to sell
Southampton need wingers desperately.
Two of last season’s wide options were only at the club on loan, with Ryan Fraser and David Brooks having returned to their parent clubs.
Southampton remain keen to secure a return for Fraser but a deal is proving complicated, whilst Brooks failed to really impress at the Saints.
Kamaldeen Sulemana’s injury against Oxford United last week means he is now expected to miss the start of the season, leaving just Samuel Edozie and Sam Amo-Ameyaw as natural wingers.
Amo-Ameyaw has impressed in pre-season but is still just 18 and it would be negligent for Southampton not to sign at least one more wide option.
Rak-Sakyi is clearly a player Martin wants and was labelled ‘remarkable’ by former manager Roy Hodgson on the official club website, but if Palace make it clear they will not sanction a sale then Southampton will need to move on quickly.
The arrival of Brereton Diaz means that Adam Armstrong can reprise the wide role in which he flourished last season, but even still Martin is incredibly light on wide options.
With less than two weeks until Southampton face Newcastle United in the opening weekend of the Premier League season, Martin simply cannot afford to wait when it comes to signing a winger.