Southampton’s summer transfer activity continued on Saturday when they confirmed the signing of midfielder Joe Aribo from Rangers — and the south coast side are unlikely to be finished there.
A new full-back is wanted to vie with Kyle Walker-Peters and cover for the injured Tino Liveramto and they also have insufficient depth on the left, where Romain Perraud is the only senior option.
This is why Southampton explored the idea of recruiting Neco Williams from Liverpool and among other candidates believed to be on the radar include fellow 21-year-olds Brandon Williams of Manchester United, Feyenoord’s Marcus Pedersen and Manchester City prospect Issa Kabore.
The situation is not expected to be resolved before Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad leave on Wednesday for a training camp in Austria, however, the club intend to address it as the 2022-23 season approaches.
Not only will the potential addition supplement Southampton’s existing options but there is a reasonable chance they would also be part of a succession plan if Walker-Peters was to be sold.
Although the 25-year-old is contracted until 2025 and the St Mary’s hierarchy are not actively seeking to trade him, there has been no progress in relation to a fresh deal and he has suitors.
Walker-Peters — who joined on a permanent basis from Tottenham Hotspur two years ago and has since broken into the England set-up — was linked with Everton last week but despite firm admiration, their financial problems would make Goodison Park an unrealistic destination for now.
Spurs are thought to have put a £30 million buy-back clause in the agreement that saw Walker-Peters switch to Southampton, while the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal are understood to have the defender on their list of possible targets if they look to bolster in the right-back position.