Southampton will look to turn their focus to two main positions in the transfer window once a deal is concluded for Flynn Downes.
Flynn Downes has always been the top priority for Russell Martin this summer, with the man who spent last season on loan at Southampton crucial to how they want to play.
It now looks as though Martin is about to get his wish, with a deal struck with West Ham United and the club giving the 25-year-old permission to leave their pre-season training camp in Austria for a medical.
The permanent capture of Downes will be a huge relief to Martin and Southampton and means they can now focus on other areas of the squad in the knowledge that they do not have to try and find an alternative.
That should see the Saints consider targets for two positions in particular, with one former loanee already under consideration.
Southampton ‘want to sign’ attacking midfielder and striker next
Downes has resolved the issue of who will play at the base of the midfield but Southampton have lost Stuart Armstrong who was their most-used attacking midfielder last season.
Armstrong played 42 Championship games under Martin last season, scoring five and assisting seven, but has left the club following the expiration of his contract.
Veteran attacking midfielder Adam Lallana has joined, but at 36 he cannot be the sole solution to the advanced midfield role.
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It would appear that is something Martin is very aware of, with Sky Sports reporting that Southampton ‘want to sign another more attacking central midfielder and a striker’.
Whilst the identity of the attacking midfielder is not known – although Celtic’s Matt O’Riley is heavily linked – Sky Sports report that the striker could be a familiar face.
That is because they claim that the Saints maintain ‘continued interest in Armando Broja’; the Chelsea forward who spent the 2021/22 season on loan at St Mary’s.
Should Southampton target Armando Broja return?
Whilst you will be hard pressed to find a Southampton fan who does not feel the club need a new centre-forward this summer, they may well be divided over whether Broja is that man.
When he spent the campaign on loan as a 19-year-old three seasons ago, Broja looked a real talent who was raw but had enormous potential.
The Albania striker scored nine goals in all competitions for the club and served as a decent temporary replacement to Danny Ings who had been sold the summer he arrived.
However, the now-22-year-old has managed just three goals in 45 appearances in all competitions since returning from his loan at Southampton for both Chelsea and Fulham.
When you consider he has also torn his ACL in the period since he led the Saints line, the club may be best served avoiding a return.