Jack Stephens Linked With Move To Watford
According to Watford fans social media, the Hornets are said to be chasing a move for Saints central defender Jack Stephens, this could be part of a chain reaction should he leave.
Whilst I have never been the greatest fan of Jack Stephens I have to say I respect him as a good club man and squad player, he has had a role to play at St Mary's and I'm not facetious enough to say something nasty about him in this respect.
So the news that Watford may be coming in for him is good in that if we are willing to let him go then, it would leave us a little short in the central defender department, so you would assume that it would mean that we have incoming before the end of the transfer window.
During his time at St Mary's Jack has started 109 Premier League game in the 5 1/2 years since he made his Premier League debut in January 2017 at the age of 23, but the bulk of these were played in the early part of his time in the first team squad.
He has spent several spells out on loan, the first were at Swindon Town in League one across 1 1/2 seasons, followed by going for a years loan to Middlesbrough in the Championship, this was not successful and he was recalled in the January after making the first team just once in the League.
He then joined Coventry City for the rest of that season (2015/16) in League One.
Since then he has been a regular member of the Saints squad and at times commanded a spot as first choice, he is also versatile able to play in several positions, but ultimately the blunt truth is at Premier League player he is a good squad player.
I would suggest that given his contract and the wages he is being paid at Southampton, that a loan deal is the more likely of the two options and a permanent deal would be out of Watford's wage structure.
What to read next:
Crystal Palace Linked With Southampton DefenderWith Saints relegation all but confirmed, the vultures are starting to hover over St Mary's to pick the bones of the 2024/25 season squad, that is not a bad thing for Southampton in the long run, it will enable us to rebuild, as long as we keep the foundations of the squad.
Ivan Juric Sacking Rumours SurfaceAccording to one of the national journalists who are close to Southampton Football Club, the first steps have been taken towards reversing the appointment of Ivan Juric, this will please many Saints supporters.
Vital Game At AFC Totton On SaturdayAFC Totton is the biggest game on locally at the weekend as they take on League leaders Merthyr Town in what is a 2nd V 1st fixture, it's going to be packed at the Snows Stadium but if you want to watch a game elsewhere here are the fixtures.
Southampton At Chelsea The VerdictThis is starting to get monotonous now, I could just cut and paste the last few verdict's change the name of the opposition and it would still be a perfect fit for this performance at Stamford Bridge.
Southampton At Chelsea The PreviewThe chances of anything other than a defeat are not good for Southampton, will Ivan Juric wake up and smell the coffee on this one and play a side that can be organised and defend.
Southampton V Brighton The VerdictThere is no way to gloss over this, it was probably our worst performance at home since that awful defeat at home to Leicester City and without the heroics of Arron Ramsdale, the result could have been just as bad as it was on that dark day.
Southampton V Brighton The PreviewCan Saints push themselves over the 11 point mark . they have a chance given that the Seagulls are one of only 4 teams who have failed to beat Southampton this season, so perhaps we will have a rare feeling , that of leaving St Mary's happy.