Promotion hopefuls Southampton are keen to strengthen their bid to return to the Premier League by dipping into the January transfer market and have reportedly identified the perfect player for Russell Martin’s system.
Right now, the Saints are playing great. Despite having taken the lead in the game, Southampton’s 1-1 draw with Norwich City will undoubtedly have been a disappointing outcome for the team; nonetheless, they were still able to extend their unbeaten streak to 18 games.
Since the team’s 2-1 loss at Middlesbrough at the end of September, which ended a four-game losing streak, Martin’s team has gone unbeaten.
It will have hurt Southampton’s feelings not to get even closer to Ipswich Town, who lost ground on Monday and are now without a win in five Championship games.
The Saints could be in the top two by the end of the month because the Tractor Boys, who are clinging to second place, have some taxing games against Sunderland and Leicester City coming up.
However, the draw at Carrow Road two days ago demonstrated that more work must be done if Southampton is to return to the Premier League at the first opportunity. The club is reportedly looking to bolster its roster before the end of this month.
TeamTalk reports that Southampton is eager to sign Aston Villa playmaker Finn Azaz before the transfer deadline expires, but Middlesbrough is vying for his services.
The Irishman, who has been on loan at Plymouth Argyle for the past 18 months, has contributed significantly to the Pilgrims’ struggle for survival this year. In 28 appearances across all competitions, he has scored seven goals and provided five assists.
The midfield player’s transfer value has increased to £1.3 million as well. If the Saints “firm up their interest,” Villa might think about recalling Azaz and selling him permanently, according to TeamTalk.
For Plymouth, this would be a devastating blow. Together with Ryan Hardie and Morgan Whittaker, Azaz’s 12 goals have helped the managerless team rank fifth in the Championship in terms of goal totals.
Still, should Southampton manage to get a deal done, it would be a very smart addition. Azaz has demonstrated he has what it takes to compete in this division, so he could be acquired cheaply. Moving to St. Mary’s Stadium might enable him to perform at an even higher level.
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