Southampton have received a huge boost in their efforts to sign a player Russell Martin desperately wants with a deal now agreed.
Russell Martin is focussed on preparing his Southampton squad for the Premier League this summer with work being done behind the scenes to give him the best possible chance of top flight survival.
So far, that has seen six players sign ahead of the new season, with defence the priority early in the window.
The latest of these is Yuginari Sugawara, with the Japanese right-back’s £5.88 million move confirmed on Sunday.
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However, Southampton’s seventh signing could be far more familiar, as the club now appear to have struck a deal to sign last season’s loanee Flynn Downes.
Southampton deal for Flynn Downes ‘agreed’ with West Ham
It has been no secret that the permanent return of Downes this summer was Martin’s number one priority.
Put simply, the Southampton boss would trust no one more than the West Ham United midfielder to carry out his tactics as the holding midfield player in his side.
Now, it looks like he will not have to as a deal appears to have finally been struck the bring the 25-year-old back to St Mary’s on a permanent basis.
That is according to Sky Sports reporter Darkish Sheth, who has posted on ‘X’: ‘BREAKING: Southampton have agreed a deal for the permanent signing of West Ham United midfielder Flynn Downes.
Downes has been given permission to have a medical. He has been with the West Ham squad on their pre-season training camp in Austria.’
Russell Martin looks set to get his man in Downes signing
Martin first managed Downes at Swansea City before the midfielder made the £12 million move to West Ham in 2022.
Despite his obvious ability, Downes has never really had an opportunity at the Hammers and Martin capitalised on that to secure him on a season-long loan last campaign.
Saints fans soon saw why their manager was so determined to secure his signing, as Downes was integral to Southampton achieving promotion via the Championship play-offs.
Martin spoke at a Q&A with fans ahead of a Southampton under-21 game against AFC Totton on Saturday about how he wants Downes signed as soon as possible.
Now, it looks as though the 38-year-old has got his wish just in time for senior side’s first friendly of pre-season against Eastleigh on Friday night.