Southampton May Have Found Ideal Lavia Heir In £4m-Rated Ace

Southampton have been gradual off the mark by way of their switch enterprise this summer season, not helped by a delay in appointing new manager Russell Martin, however which may be about to alter.

Who’ve Southampton signed?

The Saints confirmed the arrivals of Derrick Abu and Josh McNamara from Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis respectively earlier this week, however neither participant is predicted to problem for a first-team spot.

Southampton’s lack of switch exercise is all of the stranger when factoring in that Mislav Orsic has left for Trabzonspor, whereas the likes of Mohamed Elyounoussi and Theo Walcott are among those to have been released following the membership’s relegation to the Championship.

Martin’s aspect could also be pressured to make a transfer quickly, although, as James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia proceed to be linked with a return to the Premier League, that means at the least one midfield substitute should be introduced in.

In accordance to The Guardian, Southampton have made signing West Ham United’s Flynn Downes a high precedence, with the previous Swansea Metropolis ace more likely to take Lavia’s place in midfield.

How good is Flynn Downes?

It’s no coincidence that Lavia is reportedly needed by just about every of the Premier League’s top-six elite, with Liverpool said to be willing to pay £40m for the 19-year-old, in response to Soccer Insider – although even which will nonetheless be £10m beneath Southampton’s valuation.

Lavia stood out in a poor Southampton aspect final season and ranked in the top 12% of all midfielders throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues by way of possession gained, as per The Analyst.

{The teenager} will go away large boots to be crammed at St Mary’s – as will skipper Ward-Prowse ought to he additionally depart – however Flynn seems to be a good selection to do precisely that.

Downes made little or no impression in his first season with West Ham, having arrived from Swansea in a £12m deal final July, however he has confirmed pedigree within the second tier.

Certainly, the 71.9 passes per 90 minutes Downes accomplished within the 2021-22 season was the 10th-most of any player within the Championship, as per FBref, whereas his pass-completion price of 92.6% was the best in the entire division.

The previous England U20 worldwide additionally led the way for pass-completion percentage amongst West Ham gamers within the Premier League final season (87.3), and can clearly carry some composure to Southampton’s midfield ought to he arrive.

But he has many other qualities, loads of which frequently go unnoticed. As Martin, who managed Downes at Swansea, put it: “He does the soiled work very well which typically goes unsung.

“He allows folks to do their roles brilliantly. He performs with no ego in any respect and is aware of precisely what his position within the group is.”

Doing the soiled work is a facet Martin will want if Downes – now valued at just £4m by CIES Soccer Observatory – is certainly going to switch Lavia. With 1.18 tackles per 90 minutes within the center third final season, Downes ranked second solely to Lucas Paqueta (1.51) amongst Hammers gamers.

Whereas West Ham might not have seen the perfect of Downes, the proficient midfielder can clearly do a job at Championship stage and could be the participant who really kick-starts Russell’s Southampton tenure.