It was a tale of two Taylors as Southampton made two signings on the first day of the transfer window after the bonus payments had been paid, one a brand new signing and the second exceeding the option to buy after last season’s loan.
The good news was that Taylor Harwood Bellis’s loan deal was converted into a permanent transfer after his starring role in the 2023/24 promotion campaign, Saints option to buy is reported as being £20 million and that looks like a good price for a player who may still be fairly young, but has good experience on loan away from Manchester City.
He is joined by the first signing of the summer who has no previous connection with the club up to now, Charlie Taylor is a left back who has left Burnley after spending 7 seasons at Turf Moor and racking up six seasons in the Premier League playing 161 Premier League games plus another 33 in the Championship in the process.
Add 93 Championship games for his first club Leeds United and the 30 year old is not only very experienced, but a baragain having left Burnley at the end of his contract, so has cost Saints nothing, he will be a solid addition to the playing squad.
Some will say that we are not showing ambition, but with Football Financial Fair Play breathing down our necks, the club have to get the right balance in the squad both in terms of money, but also experience and proven quality.
Saints will have 4 potential suitors for the left back position, Ryan Manning, Jack Stephen’s, Juan Larios who could become a key player and now Charlie Taylor.
So a good days work for Saints, we need to keep building on the foundations so far and that also means a key signing or two that will excite the fans.