Southampton are showing no signs of slowing down their summer recruitment as they are now being linked with a move for one of Russell Martin’s former players.
Having already made Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ loan from Manchester City permanent, former player Adam Lallana will join as a free agent upon the expiration of his Brighton contract.
A deal for another out of contract Premier League player appears imminent, with Brentford attacking midfielder Saman Ghoddos also set to sign when his deal ends at the end of June.
Russell Martin looks to have identified Premier League experience as the main priority at the start of the summer transfer window, as Southampton are also close to wrapping up a deal for 30-year-old Ryan Fraser after a successful loan spell.
Now, Martin looks set to return to his former club Swansea City to sign one of their brightest young talents.
Russell Martin wants to sign Swansea City’s Nathan Wood
Martin spent just under two years in South Wales, having taken over as Swansea manager in August 2021 following his first managerial role at MK Dons.
It was at Swansea that Martin first came across Flynn Downes, the 25-year-old that excelled on loan at St Mary’s last season and whom Southampton are desperate to sign this summer.
Now, according to journalist Darren Witcoop, Martin is prepared to raid his former club with a move for central defender Nathan Wood.
According to Witcoop on ‘X’: ‘Southampton boss Russell Martin will return to former club Swansea to attempt again to sign Nathan Wood. Martin has already seen two bids knocked back by the Swans but is now confident of landing the defender this summer.’
Even with Harwood-Bellis signing, the Saints currently only have three senior centre-backs at the club so it makes sense that they will be targeting at least one more this summer.
Who is Southampton target Nathan Wood?
Swansea signed Wood in the 2022 summer transfer window, with Martin identifying the young defender as a player who could carry out his style of playing out from the back.
Now 22, Wood already has 101 senior appearances under his belt, as well as three England under-21 caps.
At 6ft 2in, Wood is a physical presence but is incredibly comfortable in possession and would be a useful addition to Southampton; especially as he already knows what Martin demands of his defenders.
Given his age, Wood will only get better and if Martin is so keen to bring the defender at the club then he must really believe in the player he handed his Swansea debut in the opening Championship game of 2022/23.
Speaking after that competitive debut, Martin was full of praise for Wood as he said: “I think Harry [Darling] really grew after the goal. He got better and better, and Nathan Wood was absolutely outstanding,”
“Everyone will talk about Harry because of the goal, but Nathan was excellent.
“You have to consider he is a young man who has only been with us for six weeks in a new way of working and playing and we are really excited about him and Harry.”
With two bids rejected last summer, Southampton will be hoping it’s third time lucky as far as Wood is concerned.