Southampton have been linked with a piece of summer transfer business which could mean a key player is set to depart.
Manager Russell Martin will not want to lose any of his most important players ahead of Southampton‘s return to the Premier League.
However, he will already have to make do without the experience and quality of Stuart Armstrong, with the Scotland international set to leave when his contract expires this summer.
The same situation could occur with striker Che Adams, but the club maintain a slim hope he will reject the advances of Wolves, Nottingham Forest and a surprise offer from Saudi Arabia to sign a new deal.
Southampton will be keen to add quality to their ranks ready for a Premier League survival bid but reports of interest in a fullback suggests the club could mean they are set to lose one of their best players.
Southampton right-back interest could mean Kyle Walker-Peters set to leave
The Saints have are reported to be keen to revive their interest in Bournemouth right-back Max Aarons; a player Martin wanted last summer.
The 24-year-old opted to join Premier League Bournemouth for £12 million instead but given Southampton managed to keep hold of Kyle Walker-Peters this was not an issue.
Aarons fell out of favour following injury last season and started just two of the Cherries’ last ten games of the campaign meaning Southampton could fancy their chances of securing his signature should they decide to pursue a deal.
Whilst the club undoubtedly need more depth, this could be bad news as it may mean that Southampton are expecting Walker-Peters to depart this summer.
However, optimistic fans will hope Aarons is merely a James Bree replacement, with Walker-Peters’ ability to play on either side making him a real asset.
Walker-Peters key to Russell Martin’s Southampton
Walker-Peters was a standout performer as Southampton beat Leeds United in the play-off final and, in truth, should never have been playing in the Championship given his quality.
The twice-capped England international was the Saints’ sole representative in the EFL Championship Team of the Season and regularly lit up St Mary’s with his marauding runs.
In the aftermath of Southampton’s 1-0 win over Bristol City – in which Walker-Peters scored the winner – BBC Solent’s Adam Blackmore highlighted how crucial Walker-Peters is as he said: “I wonder how important he’s become.
“You look at what happened in the summer [rumoured transfer interest] and you just wonder by the end of the season how important keeping him will have been.
“He’s such an integral part of what they’re doing. It’s almost like the team is built around him to get the most out of him.”
The 27-year-old was linked with a move to Chelsea in January but decided to stay on the south coast to try and get the club promoted.
He achieved that goal but is again being linked with a move with former club Tottenham Hotspur eyeing up a move for the player who came through their academy.
Southampton fans will hope a return to the Premier League is enough to convince Walker-Peters to stay, but links with Aarons will leave fans concerned he is the defender’s replacement rather than competition.