Transfer update: Leeds are on the verge of losing their top targets to their rival as they are clearly ahead in the race

| January 26, 2024 | Leeds United, Uncategorized | No Comments

Southampton ‘slightly ahead’ of Leeds in race to sign Manuel Benson

Southampton leading race for proven Championship star.

HIGHLIGHTS

  •  Southampton are leading the race to sign Manuel Benson from Burnley during the January transfer window, which would boost their chances of promotion.
  •  Benson has struggled for game time at Burnley this season, in contrast to his successful campaign in the Championship last year.
  •  Southampton are said to be ahead of Leeds in the race to sign Benson, who is expected to leave Burnley before next week’s deadline.

Journalist Ben Jacobs told GIVEMESPORT that Southampton is in the lead to recruit Manuel Benson during the January transfer window, ahead of fellow Championship promotion contenders Leeds United.

With just one week left in the window and Thursday’s deadline quickly approaching, Southampton is eager to complete more deals to increase their prospects of making an instant return to the Premier League. Due to a less than ideal first half of the season with Burnley, Benson has drawn interest from clubs in the second division.

 

The Belgian-born winger is having difficulty getting into games under Vincent Kompany, and this month, a move away from Turf Moor is being discussed.

Benson eyeing return to second tier after successful Burnley season

Benson’s season has drastically changed from this time last year, when he was dancing his way to the Championship title with Burnley, to this one, when he is fighting for playing time at the Lancastrian team.

 

Benson played in 33 of Burnley’s league games during his 2022–2023 season with the Clarets, scoring a respectable 12 goals in the process. Benson was a valuable member of the Burnley team in addition to his impressive goal total of three assists.

However, this time around, things have been flipped on their head, as at the halfway stage of the season, Benson

boasts just four Premier League appearances to his name. As a result, it

looks like the former Royal Antwerp man could be moved on during the January

window, with a Championship return looking like the most likely outcome.

Manuel Benson – Championship stats
Matches 33
Goals 12
Assists 3
Yellow Cards 2
Red Cards 0
All stats via Transfermarkt

Southampton in race for Benson signature

Benson has had a lot of interest from teams in the second division during the

January transfer window. Hull City and Burnley were said to have reached a

verbal deal for the player earlier in the month, but there don’t seem to be any

indications that the transfer is going to happen.

It has now been reported elsewhere that Southampton, as opposed to Leeds, who has also been mentioned as a bidder, has won the race to sign Benson. The attacker, who had a terrible season with Premier League Burnley, is anticipated to join Russell Martin’s squad until the end of the current campaign.

 

Benson singing for Southampton might provide them the push they need to get

promoted back to the Premier League this season, according to transfer insider

Dean Jones, who spoke with GIVEMESPORT recently. Comparing the

5′ 7″ forward to Crysencio Summerville, a current Leeds star, Jones anticipates

that Benson will have an instant impact at St Mary’s.

Ben Jacobs update – Southampton ahead of Leeds in Benson race

When quizzed on the latest in regard to Benson’s proposed January transfer move, journalist Jacobs admitted that the player at this stage of the window was more likely to sign for Southampton than Leeds. Claiming the South Coast outfit would be acquiring a ‘top-quality’ player, should they secure the deal, Jacobs believes Benson won’t be playing for Burnley after next week’s deadline:

“By Championship standards he’s obviously a top-quality player, very

confident in the league and it’s no real surprise therefore that both Leeds and

Southampton are in the race. Some sources say Southampton are slightly

ahead of Leeds but I think with nothing done, we’re just going to have to wait

and see because it’s two attractive offers on the table for the player.”

Southampton busy bees ahead of January deadline

Southampton is reportedly expecting a hectic final week of the transfer market

as they try to improve their roster in preparation for the promotion run-in.

Martin’s team is only one point behind Ipswich Town in second place in the

Championship, and they are very much in the running.

Ben Johnson of West Ham United is one of the players they have been connected to in the last few days of January.

Another Premier League player who has battled to get minutes this season is the

fullback, who is currently being linked to leaving the capital club.

 

Johnson, 23, is drawing interest from all around the nation. This season, he has only made 11 appearances for West

Ham; prospective suitors include Southampton, Sheffield United, and

Leeds. Martin may have the components to launch a second-half promotion push

and return Southampton to the Premier League at the first attempt if

Southampton is able to add Johnson and Benson as well.

 

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