Saints made a surprise last minute purchase signing on deadline day with Victor Udoh arriving from Royal Antwerp in Belgium, but this is one for the future and not the present, which will lead some supporters to question Sport Republic again.

Victor Udoh is a 20 year old Nigerian forward and he has signed for Southampton on a deal to the summer of 2028, he is a left sided player who can also play down the centre.

His market value is around £500 k, but the fee that Saints are paying is yet to be disclosed.

But he will not be joining the first team squad at Staplewood, he will be joining the U21 side, despite having broken into the Royal Antwerp first team last season and being a regular in the first part of this one, although he has never started a game for the first team.

After what looked like a good start to his career, he has dropped back to the second team at the Belgian club and therefore Saints seem to be buying potential rather than the ready product.

There will be Southampton fans who will not be happy at this and who will see it as yet another stick to beat Sport Republic with, but the fact is just because we haven't been as busy as we would have liked to have been at the top end of the club, it doesn't mean that we should ignore recruitment of youngsters.

This is clearly a cheap gamble for Saints and something that they have been doing long before Sport Republic arrived on the scene, back in the 1960's & 70's for every big name signing, there were several lower profile ones, some have faded from memory, but others have a become successful at the club, there will always be poor signings, but the reality is that the transfer business has to be taken as a bigger picture, it is about paying for itself over time.

We will soon find out if Victor Udoh is a superstar in the making or if he is a another who will make a living in the game, just not at Southampton.

All Photos Via Reuters

Colburn added 10:45 - Feb 4 We like a cheap gamble.. I don’t really care too much about this signing as it’s not been made to help us out now. Juric said he told the board what he needs and it’s up to them. They have clearly not delivered, yet again. Before people start jumping on the ‘nobody wants to come to us’ given our position, well then SR should have thought of this when it was clear after the Bournemouth game that Martin didn’t have a clue yet they waited another 8 games or whatever. Too late, just like the last time we were in the Prem. The cluelessness continues.. buying someone who isn’t ready, isn’t getting game time and another they might make a million or 2 out of with loans, a business move, not a football one.

0

landsdownsaint added 10:45 - Feb 4 Dreadful ownership , I b don’t blame any half decent player wanting out .. Juric included
0

underweststand added 10:50 - Feb 4 Thank goodness we got got at least ONE deal over the line. It seems that the prospective deals for Sylla to Saints, and Armstrong to WBA may have both failed to "beat the clock". Stats. about sub. apps aren't so exciting and goals and assists aren't always a good guide to quality. Looking at Dibling's stats.(with just 2 Prem. goals) doesn't suggest that there is a £50 million price tag there, but his performances on the pitch speak volumes. One can hope that Udoh isn't judged by fans purely on his first few sub. appearances, as I can recall that Sadio Mane had a rocky start to his Saints career with" one genius" quickly comparing him to Ali Dia. We must give the lad a chance.

0

Bowlercow added 10:52 - Feb 4 Buying for the future does make sense but why have we sold Sam Amo just when his future was so close?
0

SanMarco added 13:18 - Feb 4 I thought the end of the transfer window said a lot about SR's expertise and wisdom. Sadly not in a way that will fill any Saints fan with confidence. I know the nonsense of the 'slamming shut' of the window always creates a bit of chaos but trust SR to be all at sea yet again. It is good that they didn't waste millions this time - if everyone knows it will be wasted then why bother to spend it? We are in this lot's hands to get us back up and I have to say I am not over optimistic. If I heard that SR had bought a brewery I would know one place not to go for a p1ss up...

0

codge added 13:37 - Feb 4 Really getting old hearing looks like one for the future.
-2

JoeEgg added 16:59 - Feb 4 Sorry codge meant to vote you up It would seem that Dell1964 disagrees with one and all - any chance my friend of you giving us your viewpoint on the current situation at St Marys?
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Bristol City Polls