Russell Martin has warned that one player will definitely leave this summer if Southampton don’t win promotion to the Premier League.
Everybody wrote off Southampton’s automatic promotion credentials following their dramatic loss to Ipswich Town and a goalless draw against Blackburn Rovers.
The Saints have since recovered from those setbacks by beating Coventry City and Watford at St Mary’s, with Flynn Downes‘ 99th-minute winner securing a priceless three points.
While that dramatic victory has kept them in the hunt as Leeds, Leicester and Ipswich all dropped points last weekend,Russell Martin has warned that one player will depart the club if they remain in the Championship.
Russell Martin reveals which player will leave if Southampton don’t win promotion
The South Coasters can go level on points with third-place Leeds United if they win their two games in hand, starting against Preston North End tonight.
It’s a possibility that seemed out of their reach just a week ago, although it’s an incentive now driven by Martin’s latest comments involving Kyle Walker-Peters.
Southampton’s flying full-back is Premier League quality and the club were lucky to keep him on the back of the last two transfer windows.
Having played a vital role in their charge towards the summit, the 27-year-old is someone they’d love to keep beyond this season, but Martin has warned it will only be possible if the club win promotion.
“I think if we get promoted it becomes a lot easier to keep him,” Martin told the Daily Echo.
“If we don’t, we won’t keep hold of Kyle. There’s no point in pretending otherwise really, financially for the club and Kyle’s ambitions as well.
“Kyle was great, he didn’t kick up one fuss this summer. There was a bit of interest but not enough to tempt him or the club into him leaving.”
Kyle Walker-Peters 23/24 Championship statistics
Arsenal and Manchester United have shown an interest in Walker-Peters previously, although Tottenham have an edge over their rivals in the race.
Following his £12 million move from Spurs in the summer of 2020, the North London giants inserted a £30 million buyback clause in his contract.
Ange Postegoclu may be tempted to activate it having watched him flourish for the Saints this term, with the statistics reinforcing that claim.
Walker-Peters uses his electric pace and precise ball control to travel down the right flank at speed and most recently, has used his ball-playing skills to operate as an inverted full-back on the left.
It’s no surprise the “integral” 27-year-old was named in the Championship Team of the Season after ranking as one of the best full-backs in the division.
Those incredible attacking statistics, as depicted by the above table, demonstrate how Walker-Peters is levels above his positional peers and will be playing Premier League football next season, whether that is with Southampton or not.