Breaking: £108m+ set for Southampton’s summer transfer window- stars reveal predictions

Breaking: £108m+ set for Southampton’s summer transfer window- stars reveal predictions

By the time Southampton started preparing for their Premier League comeback, the euphoria had hardly subsided.

Leeds United was defeated in the Championship play-off final by a goal from Adam Armstrong, a former striker for Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers. The Saints made sure their tenure in the second division would only last one season under the iconic Wembley arch. What will Russell Martin do next in his attempt to get the team back into the Premier League of English football?

Naturally, there are important choices to be made with players like Che Adams and Alex McCarthy, who are nearing the conclusion of their contracts at St. Mary’s, and players like Armel Bella-Kotchap, Lyanco, and Duje Caleta-Car, who will all be returning after summer loan stints abroad. To strengthen a Saints team that will need more depth and talent to handle life at a higher level, new players will be brought in.

But how might events transpire? The world’s most popular managerial simulation, Football Manager 2024, was opened by us at 3AddedMinutes because we were eager to find out how the Saints will behave in the transfer market throughout the summer.

Goalkeepers

Little has changed in the goalkeeping department as Gavin Bazanu, a Republic of Ireland international, has returned to full fitness and is now Martin’s top stopper once again. But it also means that Alex McCarthy’s time as a Saint is coming to an end since he signs a free transfer to Everton after his contract expires. Bazanu will have opposition and backing from Joe Lumley and Mateusz Lis.

The most significant alteration that has occurred thus far is the £25 million signing of three new defenders. First, Martin makes a £3 million move for Roma full-back Rick Karsdorp, and then he improves his defense on the left by signing a £7 million agreement for Tom Rothe, a promising player for Borussia Dortmund.

The largest defensive trade, however, is the £15 million acquisition of Wout Faes from fellow Premier League newcomers Leicester City. Both Lyanco and Armel Bella-Kotchap return from loan deals to rejoin the Saints team, but Duje Caleta-Car (£3 million Lyon), Juan Larios (£7 million Brentford), Romain Perraud (£1 million Espanyol), and James Bree (£3 million Luton Town) depart.

Lyanco, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Jan Bednarek, Wout Faes, Kyle Walker-Peters, and Jan Bednarek are Martin’s defensive options.

Forwards

Okay, so where do we begin? First off, there’s little doubt Martin will have plenty of choices at the top of the pitch. Following his agreement to pay £3.5 million to Italian club Cagliari for the frontman, Paul Onuachu has left on a permanent transfer.

Ross Stewart is also leaving on loan, heading to Celtic for a season-long loan that could turn into a £5 million permanent move next summer, while Che Adams is leaving on a free transfer, currently without a club.

But with the addition of Gabriel Sara (£22 million Norwich City), Alexander Aravena (£3 million Univ Catolica), Fedde de Jong (£2.5 million Cambuur), Hugo Ekitike (£5 million Eintracht Frankfurt), and Franck Surdez (£2 million from AA), the Saints manager still has a ton of alternatives. Carlos Alcaraz also returns to the Saints squad after a long spell with Serie A giants Juventus.

Martin’s forward options: Gabriel Sara, Sam Edozie, Fedde de Jong, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Franck Surdez, Adam Armstrong, Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Aravena, Sekou Mara, Carlos Alcarez.

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