Calum Chambers has become the forgotten man of the 2014 summer pillage of the Saints first team squad by the so called big clubs, back then the 19 year old looked to have a golden future, but it has not worked out as he had hoped.

When Saint pocketed £16 million for Calum Chambers in the summer of 2014, there was a feeling that he was perhaps the most talented of the exodus of players who left the club for big money.

But like several other Saints who have left Southampton for Arsenal, he found that his career would never really take off and 7 years later he has still started only 43 Premier League games for the club, only just over double the 18 he racked up for Saints.

His failure to establish himself at the Emirates has not been entirely his own fault, he started his time at Arsenal well starting 23 Premier League games in his first season, but most of these were in the first half of the season.

After struggling to establish himself he was packed off to Middlesbrough in 2016/17 to give him game time in the Premier League, he was a regular there and returned to Arsenal but again found first team opportunities limited.

2018/19 saw him back out on loan, this time at Fulham and although the Cottagers would be relegated he won the Fulham Player of the Season award, with 48.4 per cent of the votes–more than three times any other player nominated.

Last season saw him start to force his way into Mikel Artetas plans but on 29 December 2019, Chambers ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee in a 2—1 defeat by Chelsea and his season was over.

Fit again he has played in the Europa League but not in the Premier League and again Arsenal look set to loan him out.

So would a return to St Mary's suit both Saints and Arsenal as well as the player himself.

Turning 26 in a couple of weeks, he is a player that could offer Saints both versatility due to his ability to play either full back or as a central defender, as well as experience with 139 Premier League appearances to his name.

With money tight due to the Covid 19 situation, it would make sense for Saints to utilise the loan market and this is an option that might well be suitable.

Theo Walcott has shown that a prodigal son returning after leaving for Arsenal can be a success, perhaps Calum Chambers might be the next one.

Photo: Action Images

dirk_doone added 22:17 - Jan 5 Yes, I agree with you, Nick. He would be a useful addition to our squad but would he and Arsenal be prepared to accept him not being a regular first team starter?
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Chesham_Saint added 22:35 - Jan 5 I agree, he’d be a good addition. He looked very good for us and like many who leave Saints doesn’t seem to have done as well as he he should. Another plus is that he never pushed to leave (unlike certain other centre backs I can think of).
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SaintPaulVW added 23:38 - Jan 5 Players on loan need to play regularly. As he would be a reserve, admittedly for two positions, I am not sure he would get enough game time. However, I could have said that about Theo and look how that turned out!
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Saidou added 02:04 - Jan 6 Back in 2014, Koeman said they thought Callum wasn't ready for a move yet and that they urged him to stay for a season or two but he wouldn't listen. If we are allegedly trying to loan in Brandon Williams and we have vokins, ramsey where will Callum fit in here? I have seen him play midfield for both Arsenal and Fullham. He is not a good midfielder. And I don't want him anywhere near our center circle. How man more years does he have left at Arsenal?

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AirFlorida added 07:46 - Jan 6 Who?
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WestSussexSaint added 09:19 - Jan 6 For me he would have to be back up to what we already have. He cannot be picked ahead of Salisu or the current first team squad players unless they are injured or unavailable. If we secure Brandon Williams on loan then we don’t need Chambers. If The deal for Williams falls through then it could be a possibility.
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AirFlorida added 10:34 - Jan 6 Is he ready for the move up from a mid table prem team to a top six team? I'm not too sure 😂
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halftimeorange added 11:00 - Jan 6 He was promising during his time with us but, not convincing yet he doesn't seem to have the ego about him that might upset the other players and it might not be too late for Ralph to exert his magic. If he's cheap why not give him another chance.
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underweststand added 11:13 - Jan 6 This whole idea doesn't seem to be very popular on here so far, Nick. As I recall....Pochettino saw Calum as surplus to requirements even though he'd had some good games as a sub. for the injured Clyne, and Arsenal's (reputed) fee of £15 million was certainly not to be sniffed at. Calum had been outstanding in the U23's and might have had a better career with Saints - had he stayed - but never quite fitted in - the Arsenal set-up as Wenger had envisaged, although he did get the "London club bonus " ... a handful of England games to put on his CV. So.. the question is ..Would we be open to seeing him return ? It's good to remember the old footballing adage ..."never go back" , although there have been some exceptions. Seeing the "revived " Theo Walcott, perhaps the idea isn't so daft, especially if a low /no fee involved, but it isn't necessarily a good idea just for the sake of " Auld Lang Syne " and any new signing(s) must add something positive to the squad. Most of the judgements /comments above are perhaps rightly-based on his past apps. in a few televised games, BUT if there are other players in the frame maybe it would be good to pursue those instead, BUT we have also seen that we shouldn't under-estimate .. "The Ralph Effect " and how it has worked on Kyle Walker-Peters...so ...who knows?

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highfield49 added 11:44 - Jan 6 I was about to post about waiting to see how Salisu performed in the cup match before we should even consider signing Chambers. Having now read that Salisu is injured and sidelined yet again maybe getting an experienced defender in on loan makes more sense.
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NewburySaint added 20:44 - Jan 6 No, Ta-we’re good as we are! Chesham, as I remember it he wasn’t pushing for a move....but his agent was & I believe Saints wanted him to stay.
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VillageSaint added 01:11 - Jan 7 He's not cheap and this mystery person who thought he was the most talented of our young players back in 2014 seemed out of kilter with those of us who actually went to games. He wasn't. I guess the person who felt this was in fact Callum Chambers. Certainly that seems to be a core problem - viz everywhere he goes he thinks he is better than he is. Could he do a job for us? IMHO No, No, No, No, No.

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KriSaint added 15:03 - Jan 7 Thanks Nick for this, I think, relevant article/suggestion about Chambers. Good comments/discussions in the thread, so far. I would like to add: I'd like to see him come here on loan, b-cause our squad needs one or two extra players and why not Chambers, who can play 3 positions, and who would probably quickly be able to find his place in the hierarchy and feel, I think, 'back home', 'familiar with the environment' and welcome to go for it and try to break into the match squads for every remaining game of a very promising season. So I say get him in, please. To galvanize our team with what he has.

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