Southampton could benefit from their manager’s contact list as they look to improve their squad this summer.
Whilst Russell Martin is relatively new to management, having taken his first job in 2019, he has overseen some real talents in his time in charge of both MK Dons and Swansea City before taking over as Southampton boss in the summer.
With that in mind, it may be a good idea for the club to use their manager’s knowledge of the players he has previously worked with to identify possible targets for the next transfer window, particularly as Martin has a very particular style of play that often takes time for players to adapt to.
Southampton currently find themselves fourth in the Championship table, with a game in hand on Leicester City and two on both league leaders Leeds United and Ipswich Town. With ten games left for Martin’s side, the division they will be playing in next season is still very much up in the air and will have a huge impact on their summer business.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given he followed Martin to Southampton, Ryan Manning is the player who has made the most appearances under Martin in his managerial career to date with 121. However, here are three more players who Martin has managed previously that Southampton should consider signing ahead of the next campaign.
Russell Martin should target Morgan Whittaker reunion
Morgan Whittaker made 24 appearances under Martin whilst the pair were at Swansea, scoring four goals in the process.
Whittaker’s time at the South Wales club was short-lived, though, with the winger moving to Plymouth Argyle permanently last summer having impressed in the first half of the club’s promotion winning season before being recalled. Whilst in charge of Swansea, Martin was actually responsible for allowing Whittaker to leave on loan twice; initially to Lincoln City in January 2022 before Plymouth that summer.
Given Whittaker was just 20 when Martin sent him to Lincoln, it is difficult to argue that the current Southampton manager was not right to send the youngster to a lower league club to develop – particularly when you consider the Swans had Joel Piroe leading the line.
Mow 23, Whittaker has taken the Championship by storm with 18 goals and seven assists in the league for a Plymouth side struggling at the wrong end of the table. Even more impressive is that he has done this from a right wing position, even if this role does allow him the freedom to cut in and shoot with his cultured left foot.
Remarkably given he only signed for Plymouth in the summer for £1 million, Whittaker was the subject of a January bid from Italian giants Lazio. Plymouth rejected the bid, but Southampton may be able to capitalise in the summer to try and complete a deal for a real talent in a position that is currently occupied by loanee David Brooks, but up for grabs ahead of next season.
Could Martin revisit failed summer transfer for Nathan Wood?
Southampton failed in a bid to sign young central defender Nathan Wood from Swansea last summer, with the Saints’ £10 million bid not meeting Swansea’s £12 million valuation.
If the Saints were to bring Wood to St Mary’s, it would be the second time Martin has signed the 21-year-old having taken the player to Swansea from Middlesborough in summer 2022. The England under-21 international played 43 times in his single season under Martin and was labelled a ‘real leader’ by the current Southampton manager who also added that Wood could go to the ‘very top’.
Southampton currently have the senior central defensive duo of Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek at the club, with 22-year-old Taylor Harwood-Bellis also a real standout performer this season. However, Harwood-Bellis’ future hinges almost entirely on promotion, with Southampton having a £20 million obligation to buy for the youngster should they return to the Premier League. If Martin’s side fall short of that target, it is difficult to envisage a scenario where the under-21 Euros winner returns to the Championship such has been the consistency of his performances.
Even if Southampton are promoted and sign Harwood-Bellis, three central defenders is not enough and Wood would likely be a welcome addition, especially given his ability on the ball and obvious familiarity with what Martin expects from his centre-backs both with and without the ball.
Could Southampton pursue Celtic’s Matt O’Riley?
The final player Martin should consider recommending to the Southampton hierarchy is Matt O’Riley.
O’Riley played under Martin in his first role at MK Dons and made the jump from the then League One side to Scottish giants Celtic effortlessly. Since leaving Dons in January 2022, O’Riley has played 111 games for the Old Firm club, scoring 19 goals and registering 31 assists in that time.
O’Riley is a Denmark international, despite playing for England up until the under-21 age group, and is a centre midfielder who possesses bundles of creativity alongside his eye for goal. With the influential Stuart Armstrong now 31, Carlos Alcaraz‘ future looking as though it may lie elsewhere and question marks over Will Smallbone‘s ability to make the step up should Southampton be promoted, exploring a deal for O’Riley would make sense.
Speaking after O’Riley’s Denmark debut in November 2023, Martin said: “I could see right away that Matt was a brilliant footballer, he is an absolutely outstanding technician. Let me tell you something about Matt: his mentality was straight out of the top drawer. At MK Dons he was every manager’s dream.
“He was the consummate professional in his preparation. He was really into that and the recovery side of the game. He was a real student of football and was genuinely interested in how he could take his game to the next level and be the best he could be.
“He is physically a beast too. I said when he first signed for Celtic that he would be one of the best players in the Scottish Premiership and I am delighted for him that he has proven that statement to be correct”.
With such high praise, it would come as no surprise to see Martin’s side test the waters with a bid in the summer. Any deal would likely see Celtic turn a huge profit on a player they signed for around £1.5 million in early 2022, especially as rumours suggest the Scottish club valued O’Riley at closer to the £25 million mark in January.
With a hefty fee likely, this is a deal that would be contingent on Southampton being a Premier League club next season.