Who are the Southampton transfer targets in the 2023 Summer transfer window? Look now further, we've got you covered.
Lackluster Saints couldn’t cope with the pressure in Premier League’s 2022/23 season and got rightfully relegated following six victories, seven draws, and a whopping 25 losses.
To think Southampton will make an instant comeback to England’s top-tier football would be a bit naive. After all, coach Russell Martin’s boys have a sea of quality opponents up against them. The likes of Leicester City, Leeds United, Stoke City, and Birmingham come to mind.
Sure, Southampton are among the favorites for promotion, but the starting XI will have to be rebuilt in order for Saints to brush the rustiness off. As any other English team does, the Saints were busy this summer.
So far, Southampton managed to snap up Manchester City’s U21 defensive midfielder Shea Charles. The 19-year-old joined Saints after a massive €12.25m bid for his services. Charles is one for the future, as Saints believe he has the potential to be a difference-maker for the club in the long run.
The 27-year-old Ryan Manning is another new arrival at Saint Mary’s Stadium this summer. The Irish left-back will boost coach Martin’s side to the delight of the Saints’ board, who didn’t have to spend a penny on the former Swansea player.
After the team got relegated, Mislav Orsic, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Ibrahima Diallo, Dan Nlundulu, Mateusz Lis, Theo Walcott left the club, while former Manchester City goalkeeper-in-chief Willy Caballero decided to retire.
The Saints definitely need fresh blood, so let’s see who the key 2023 transfer targets are.
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Southampton transfer targets: Summer 2023
Hamza Choudhury
Will Hamza follow in the footsteps of former teammates Harvey Barnes, James Maddison, Youri Tielemans, and Caglar Soyuncu and abandon the sinking ship that Leicester City seems to be at the moment? We’ll have to wait and see, but rumors have it that the 25-year-old wants to sort out his future soon.
Hamza Choudhury might come expensive for Saints despite having only a season left on his deal with the Foxes. Hamza didn’t quite get the required minutes under coach Rodgers’ rule, and with only a year left on his contract, you could see why he seems frustrated.
Southampton are yet to lodge a formal bid for the defensive midfielder’s signature, but the new Saints manager is keeping an eye out.
Ross Stewart
The 27-year-old Ross Stewart is another player on the Saints’ radar. Arriving at Saint Mary’s Stadium could be a possibility for the experienced striker shortly.
Despite injuries constantly burdening his career, Ross is often the subject of interest for many Championship sides. Southampton are just one of them.
However, it seems that Sunderland’s board might throw a wrench in Southampton’s plans, as the team announced Ross Stewart has a deal going through the 2023/24 season as well. His team seems reluctant to let him go, so Saints will have to make an irresistible offer for the striker’s services.
Stoke City already sent their best offer for Ross Stewart which is set at £5m. Still, Sunderland already rejected it, as financially speaking, the deal is laughable for a player of such caliber.
Flynn Downes
Appearing in 21 games for West Ham last season was a decent feat to have, but one that Flynn Downes considered unacceptable. The 24-year-old midfielder is linked with a possible move to Saint Mary’s Stadium sooner rather than later.
Coach Russell Martin is keen on reuniting with Downes, so there seems to be a high chance that the midfielder might perform on the south coast this season.
There’s no information about an official Saints bid for the 24-year-old’s signature yet.
Lawrence Shankland
Amid transfer rumors taking Che Adams to one of the Premier League’s top teams, coach Russell Martin is forced to search for talent elsewhere. Saints haven’t boosted the attacking line during this transfer window, and it seems that Lawrence Shankland is among the top names on the list before the end of this transfer window.
Lawrence had a fantastic 2022/23 season with Scottish side Hearts. He was featured in 37 Scottish Premiership games, during which he scored 24, assisted five, and got booked on five occasions. The talented forward even scored a goal in the Europa League qualifiers last season.
If Saints want Lawrence to replace Che Adams, they’ll surely not have to break the bank on this one. According to market prices, Lawrence Shankland should cost Saints approximately £4.5m, which is going to be a fraction of what the team will make of Che Adams’ deal. Rumors have it that Southampton already approached Hearts with an enquiry about the 28-year-old’s availability.
Bojan Miovski
24-year-old Bojan Miovski is next on coach Russell’s shortlist. The player from North Macedonia has a lackluster market price of €1.2m, but Scottish side Aberdeen will likely only accept a bid in the €4m price range.
Boosting Saints would definitely be a step forward for the up-and-coming striker, so there’s no question whether or not he’ll accept Saints’ offer. Coach Russell Martin’s interest in the striker is no secret. He’s been an admirer of Miovski’s talent ever since he was in charge of Swansea City. It’s no wonder why he’s pushing Saints to swoop in at the last possible moment during this transfer window. An official Saints bid for Miovski is expected to be made as we speak. We’ll just have to wait and see if Aberdeen will deem the offer acceptable.
Bojan Miovski had a very decent 2022/23 Scottish Premiership campaign, scoring on 16 occasions and assisting twice. Should Saints book him, he’ll do his best to make fans forget all about Che Adams.
Nathan Wood
Russell Martin is no stranger to Nathan Wood’s undeniable talent. The 21-year-old English defender and the Scottish manager worked together back in Wood’s Swansea City stay. That’s why the 37-year-old manager is eager to boost his backline with this potential move.
Nathan Wood hardly missed a game last season in the Championship for Swansea City. Swans used his services on 40 occasions during their 2022/23 campaign, during which he even managed to open his score tab for the club. Wood even made an appearance in the EFL Cup but sadly, Swans didn’t get far.
However, Russell Martin wants to have him at all costs. Reports have it that the Swans already rejected two Southampton offers for the 21-year-old’s services. Both of them were in the £10m price range. If Southampton want to have Nathan Wood on their side during the difficult 2023/24 Championship season, they’ll have to significantly sweeten the pot, as Swansea City don’t have too many quality defenders to afford to sell the few good ones they have.
