Lesley Ugochukwu Arrives At St Mary’s From Chelsea
Southampton made what could be a key signing this season, when they took Lesley Ugochukwu on loan from Chelsea, the defensive midfielder is highly rated and at 6ft 3 has the physique to dominate games.
It hit the rumour mill earlier in the week, but it was confirmed on Friday evening that Chelsea midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu will spend the 2024/25 season on loan at Saints.
He arrives with a big reputation, he was signed by the Blues from Rennes just a year ago for £25 million, still aged just 19 he already had 47 games in France’s Ligue 1 to his name.
In his first season at Chelsea he was a member of the first team squad, despite a hamstring injury hampering a big chunk of his season, he started 3 Premier League games plus another 9 off the bench as well as playing the full 90 minutes in 3 EFL Cup matches.
That is good going, because as we know getting into the Chelsea first team for a youngster is a near impossibility, Tino Livramento & Armando Broja had barely played a game for Chelsea when they joined Southampton.
It is believed that this is just a straight forward loan deal, no option to buy etc, Chelsea truly rate Ugochukwu and see him as part of their squad going forward.
It is unclear whether he will play any part in today’s game at Newcastle.
What to read next:
Southampton At Everton The Carabao Cup PreviewThe game that neither side wants to win takes place at Goodison Park tonight as the Toffee's take on the Saints to decide which side will go out and be able to concentrate on the League and which one will get caught up in a cup run with the risk of injury and suspensions.
A Rough Guide To EvertonSaints seem to be taking a decent following up to Goodison Park for the Carabao Cup tie against Everton, so for those who haven't been before here is the information about where to go and what to do up there.
Will Fate Once Again Force Russell Martin's HandSouthampton's season was starting to collapse around us when Gavin Bazunu was injured in the warm up against Preston, that forced Russell Martin into changes that you felt he would not have made otherwise, Jack Stephen's sending off may be another of those moments.
Southampton V Manchester United The VerdictRussell Martin rung the changes, but of course there was one he didn't make and that ultimately cost us dearly, as a team that started brightly, faded badly without leadership or organisation.
Two Southampton Games Changed For TelevisionSouthampton supporters will have to change their plans for a couple of weekends in November after the latest changes for television broadcast were announced, find out what has been changed here.
Jan Bednarek Pens New Deal At St Mary'sSouthampton's Polish central defender Jan Bednarek has put pen to paper on a new deal at St Mary's, this comes only two years since it appeared he wanted away from the club and went on a ill fated loan to Aston Villa.
Southampton V Manchester United The PreviewThis is being billed in the media as the game that could see the sacking of either of the managers if they suffer defeat. I don't see that happening, but for Russell Martin this is a crucial game and one that he has to show that he can change things.