Southampton want to sign “intelligent” new player for Martin

This could be huge for the Saints…

It didn’t take Russell Martin long to settle in at Southampton and he has the ability to return the Saints to the Premier League when the time comes.

Southampton may be well-positioned to grab the lead in the fight for promotion

after Ipswich Town made mistakes in recent weeks, drawing with rivals

Norwich City, losing 4-0 to Leeds United, and then drawing with Leicester City.

Martin may want to sign a handful of new players once the January transfer

market opens, since they might end up defining Southampton’s season. And one

specific Premier League player could be among those who arrive.

Southampton transfer news

Despite losing both James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia in the summer transfer window, Southampton did well to keep hold of a number of solid performers. The likes of Che Adams and Adam Armstrong stayed put to hand Martin an early boost in his tenure. Now, however, the manager can turn his attention back to reinforcements ahead of the winter window opening in a matter of days.

According to reports, the Saints may even consider signing a player on loan from a top-tier rival club. Southampton wants to loan-sign David Brooks, a winger for Bournemouth, in January, according to Alex Crook of talkSPORT.

Leeds is vying with Bournemouth for Brooks’ signing, and if Bournemouth approves a January transfer, Southampton will have a significant advantage over Daniel Farke’s team in the promotion fight. The Wales midfielder may have to make a significant choice next month, but he undoubtedly has the ability to make all the difference.

“Intelligent” Brooks could help Southampton seal promotion

After returning from a battle with long-term illness, Brooks has shown glimpses of nearing his best for Bournemouth this season so could help the club push for promotion. First, however, the 26-year-old needs consistent game time – something that may not come at the Vitality as Brooks’ stats show.

The winger may turn to a team like Southampton to get first-team experience given he has only made two starts in the

Premier League this year. The Welshman may blossom with more activity given

his three goal involvements during that period; this is something that has been

observed with another loanee, Ryan Fraser, who is settling in at St Mary’s.

Eddie Howe, the current manager of Newcastle United and a former manager of Bournemouth, received a lot of accolades during his tenure there, as stated in 2018:

It has come to symbolize his arrival to the club. He has performed incredibly

well for us; he is inventive, incredibly energetic, and he handled his goals

tonight with ease. He is a player that can do a little bit of everything; he has

excellent offensive ability, creativity, ball handling skills, and intelligence. He

scored a really fantastic first goal and a really shrewd second goal where he ran

at an angle and simply deflected the ball backwards behind him.”