Southampton could be set to make their second signing of the summer with a move for a player born in 2005.
The transfer window does not open until the 14th June, but Southampton have already confirmed their first signing since promotion with Taylor Harwood-Bellis‘ loan from Manchester City made permanent.
With Harwood-Bellis one of five players in Russell Martin‘s squad that was on loan at the end of last season and Stuart Armstrong, Che Adams and Alex McCarthy all out of contract this summer it was always going to be a busy off-season regardless of promotion.
However, with promotion comes the need to improve the squad both in terms of depth and quality and that is exactly what Martin and owners Sport Republic will be trying to do.
Now, latest reports suggest the Saints are looking to secure the signing of a talented South American striker who could lead the line for years to come.
Southampton in ‘talks’ to sign Jeronimo Domina
Whilst the club have confirmed that Stuart Armstrong is set to leave upon the expiration of his current deal, contract negotiations are ongoing with both Adams and McCarthy.
Both are still expected to leave though, and this would leave the Saints with just Adam Armstrong, Ross Stewart and Sekou Mara as striking options.
Armstrong has played his best football out wide under Martin and managed just five Premier League goals in two seasons, whilst Mara has just one.
Stewart has never played at a higher level than the Championship and even then he has only played 17 games in England’s second tier.
When all these factors are considered it is unsurprising that Southampton have been linked with a striker and the latest update from journalist Rudi Galetti suggests the club are edging closer to securing a deal for a real prospect.
Galetti posted on ‘X’: ‘Southampton targeted Jeronimo Domina as a possible reinforcement in the attack.
Talks are ongoing between the English club and Union Santa Fe for his possible transfer, as @GerGarciaGrova said.
The Argentine striker appreciates the idea of playing in Europe.’
Is Domina a player Southampton need?
Southampton are always a club who have an eye on the future, famed for their academy that has produced the likes of Matt Le Tissier, Alan Shearer, Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott.
However, in recent years the academy well has run a little dry, with James Ward-Prowse and Luke Shaw the last two real success stories making their debuts over a decade ago.
More recently, Southampton have turned their attention to recruiting young talents either on the brink of first team football or just making their first forays into the senior game; Romeo Lavia, Tino Livramento, Samuel Edozie and Mara all examples of this.
They look set to do this again with a move for Domina, the 18-year-old who has already notched up an impressive 46 senior games in Argentina and scored five goals according to Transfermarkt.
Whilst he is clearly a talented prospect, it is difficult to argue that Domina is what Southampton need right now.
However, if the intention is to sign Domina and integrate him into the under-21 side to allow him to develop out of the spotlight and it does not hamper Southampton making moves for at least one – but maybe two – first-team strikers then a deal does start to make more sense.
The St Mary’s club have already been linked with a move for Villarreal forward Ben Brereton Diaz, but with Adams expected to leave a real proven goalscorer should be very high on the list of priorities for Southampton this summer.
Domina is not that, but he could develop into one and that is why the Saints are keen to secure his signing as soon as possible.