5 Southampton players Premier League clubs should be interested in after play-off win
Southampton marched firmly back into the Premier League on Sunday after defeating Leeds United in the Championship play-off final.
The Saints‘ success granted another southern team a spot in the top-flight, with manager Russell Martin preparing for his first season in the top flight.
But their success may attract the eyes of rival clubs as the summer transfer window opens.
Here are five Southampton players that Premier League clubs should look out for.
It was Adam Armstrong’s goal at Wembley that guaranteed Southampton’s promotion back into the Premier League.
It did take some time for Armstrong to settle at St Mary’s, but once he did, he became a crucial part of the team – recording 37 goal involvements in 52 games during the 2023/24 season.
The forward is known for his relentless runs and spatial awareness, making him a ket asset in attack. When his confidence levels are high, Armstrong can become extremely valuable.
Kyle Walker-Peters has already established himself as an incredibly versatile player in both the Championship and the Premier League, but his recent season on the south coast may have risen his value even higher.
His contract is set to expire at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, so the Saints may be forced to make a hasty decision if they are to avoid losing him for free.
The right-back is steeped in technical ability and has played on either side of defence during his time at St Mary’s. He’s even been deployed further forward under Martin, covering gaps in the team when needed, while he was in the England squad as recently as last year.
Che Adams is a threat on any pitch, thanks to his powerful runs and skills to exploit gaps between opponents.
While he has become a bit of a polarizing figure at Southampton, Adams would be a good choice for an attacking system, offering pace and physicality, even if he sometimes struggles to find the back of the net.
Despite his criticisms, Adams netted 17 goals and provided six assists during the 2023/24 campaign, making him the Championship’s sixth best goalscorer.
Adams‘ exit from Southampton has already been confirmed with his contract up at the end of June.
21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz spent the second half of the 2023/24 campaign over in Italy on loan at Serie A giants Juventus, where he swapped the play-off trophy for the Coppa Italia.
Juve do have an option to buy in their loan deal, but if they do not activate this, then Alcaraz should be a very strong option for other top sides.
The Argentine is useful as a box-to-box midfielder and has proven a valuable attacker early in his career.
Joe Aribo is adept in a variety of roles on the pitch, offering quality and depth in attack. His strength lies in freedom on the pitch, with the midfielder looking most proficient when he isn’t locked in one specific area.
He has proved useful for Southampton, and was a vital part of Rangers‘ incredible title-winning and Europa League final sides.
However, it has been long thought that Aribo may seek a move away from the south coast, with the Nigeria international struggling to settle at St Mary’s.