Southampton’s automatic promotion hopes remain alive heading into the final stretch of the gruelling campaign.
Russell Martin‘s side still have their sights set on a top-two finish to ensure an instant return back to the Premier League.
For the most part, Southampton have enjoyed a positive season and their recruitment has played a big part in that.
The South Coasters utilised the loan market in the last two windows and have brought in six players on temporary deals.
Barring Mason Holgate who saw his contract cut short in January, they’ve all been successful and supporters will be hopeful of keeping them at St Mary’s beyond the summer.
Southampton F.C News sat down exclusively with HITC journalist Graeme Bailey and assessed the club’s chances of signing each loan player on a permanent basis.
Which Southampton loan players will sign permanently?
Much of Saints’ success this term has been down to their summer and winter arrivals, with Manchester City loanee Taylor Harwood-Bellis being the prime example.
Bailey provided an update on which loan players may stay: “It’s going to come down to the situation on promotion. I still think they’ll go up, I still think the main three will go up.
“Brooks, obviously, we know isn’t staying. I think Fraser will, he’s played well. Harwood-Bellis, he’s an interesting one because he was the best centre-half in the Championship for Burnley last season, he really was. He’s done ok. I think there’s a fair chance that he could remain.
“Rothwell, again, there’s a fair chance that he remains. Flynn Downes, he’s ok. Depends on what the fee would be.
“I think two or three of them could stay, it’ll be dependent on the price tag.
“Again, it will massively be dependent on what division they are in. So they may not know until May, so they may have to wait for that playoff final, it’s going to be a very difficult situation for them.“
Southampton’s transfer plans on hold
As Bailey alluded to, Southampton’s transfer window will very much be dependent on whether they can return to the top flight, which would boost their budget tenfold.
Harwood-Bellis has a £20m obligation to buy in his contract but that will only be activated if the club go up.
Downes has been a key cog in Martin’s possession-based system and it seems West Ham may be willing to list him up for sale, so he appears the most likely to return to St Mary’s next season.
The 25-year-old played under the Saints boss at Swansea City and the pair evidently have a great relationship.
A busy summer awaits Southampton, particularly with nine players potentially departing.