Southampton gains from Russell Martin as rivals express interest in Kyle Walker-Peters’ substitute
The fact that a team that has been pressing to sign Kyle Walker-Peters appears to be considering alternative possibilities may give Southampton manager Russell Martin more leverage in his attempts to hold onto one of his top players.
With Flynn Downes’ £18 million arrival this week, Southampton has already completed maybe their most significant deal of the summer, which has always been Russell Martin’s top aim.
Even though the Saints have added seven players so far this summer, there are still some positions on the team that need work.
That’s not even accounting for the potential for high-profile exits. Kyle Walker-Peters, the only player from Southampton to make the EFL Championship Team of the Season the previous season, has been linked to a move this summer.
Given that Walker-Peters is nearing the end of his contract and his standout performances in the Championship, several clubs are interested in signing him.
The team showing the most interest in Downes has been West Ham United, who just transferred him to Southampton. However, a recent development may give supporters hope that they can retain Walker-Peters this season.
Alternative to Kyle Walker-Peters, West Ham’s “target”
Walker-Peters and Downes might be traded, it was claimed earlier in the summer, and West Ham and Southampton were in talks about it.
With Walker-Peters’ contract problem and Martin’s desperate attempt to sign Downes, it seemed like West Ham had all the cards in this scenario, which alarmed Saints supporters.
Southampton can now relax knowing that a deal for the 25-year-old was not dependent on Walker-Peters leaving because Downes’ signing has been officially announced.
The St. Mary’s club has now gained additional momentum as West Ham is considering a bid for Aaron Wan-Bissaka of Manchester United, a player who has one year remaining on his contract.
The Telegraph claims that this is the case, stating that the
West Ham United is one of the teams reportedly interested in Manchester United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The article also said that United anticipates that Wan-Bissaka would “create significant interest,” which may lead them to decide to cash in this summer.
Wan-Bissaka was signed by United for £50 million from Crystal Palace in 2019, but the club is unlikely to recover even a portion of that cost, and West Ham might consider him to be better value than Walker-Peters.
Walker-Peters is expected to maintain its appeal throughout the summer.
Walker-Peters’ transfer window stay with Southampton is by no means assured, even though this is unquestionably good news for Martin and the team.
Brighton and former team Tottenham Hotspur are still interested.
The twice-capped England international may find both clubs appealing, but the truth is that unless Walker-Peters signs a new contract, there will be conjecture about his future throughout the summer.
Given how difficult it may be, Southampton is keen to avoid letting players in the latter years of their contracts, as demonstrated by Che Adams’ summertime predicament.
The signing of fellow right-back Yukinari Sugawara implies Southampton has prepared for the prospect of Walker-Peters leaving, and it is therefore likely that they will have to entertain any realistic bids for the player this summer.
