Football League World takes a look at the potential arrivals on the South Coast as the Saints prepare for a busy summer transfer window.
Ben Johnson
Southampton’s long-standing interest in West Ham defender Ben Johnson is something the club could act on during the summer transfer window.
Having racked up 10 caps for England’s Under-21s, the right-back would be a solid option for the Saints, especially with Kyle Walker-Peters being subject to a potential return to Tottenham Hotspur, while Chelsea have also been credited with a move for the 27-year-old.
Still in the infancy of his career and having vast experience in the Premier League, it would be a like-for-like swap should Walker-Peters leave the club at the end of the season, with the ability to defend and attack down the right-hand side, along with being comfortable in possession.
Johnson’s current contract with the Hammers is due to expire at the end of the season, meaning should Southampton pursue a deal for the defender, it may result in a shrewd piece of business by Martin, aided by not having to pay a transfer fee for his services.
Manuel Benson
Manuel Benson is another player that was linked with a move to the South Coast in January, with it reported by Football Insider that a loan deal fell at the final hurdle.
The 27-year-old was a key figure in the Clarets’ promotion campaign last term and Benson could prove to be an exciting addition despite failing to make the same impact in the Premier League as he had in the second tier the season prior.
Upon his maiden season of managing in the top division, Vincent Kompany welcomed 14 new faces to Turf Moor throughout the season, and it has somewhat proved to be a disadvantage for the midfielder, having failed to nail down a regular first team spot this season as they continue to fight for survival.
The Saints will see a number of integral loan additions return to the parent clubs at the end of the season, including the likes of David Brooks and Joe Rothwell, and Benson could be considered as a much cheaper alternative for Martin to look at in the summer.
Matias Soule
Exciting Argentine, Matias Soule, has become an emerging star in Serie A this season, impressing during the first loan spell of his career at Frosinone Calcio.
The 21-year-old struggled to wriggle his way among the abundance of attacking talent at Juventus’ disposal, but his stock has risen greatly over the course of the campaign, and he looks primed to make the next step in his exciting career.
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