Southampton may have already identified their successor to Kyle Walker-Peters with interest expected in the right-back this summer.
It was one of the biggest shocks of last summer that Kyle Walker-Peters remained a Southampton player come the end of the transfer window following the club’s relegation from the Premier League.
With Southampton instead deciding to sell fellow right-back Tino Livramento to Newcastle United, Walker-Peters had no choice but to knuckle down and perform in the Championship.
That is exactly what he did and his impressive form led to Chelsea showing interest in January. However, Walker-Peters wanted to finish the job he had started and stayed on the south coast to help secure a return to the top flight.
Southampton fans will hope that Premier League football is enough to keep Walker-Peters at the club, but links to a new right-back suggest the Saints could be preparing for a future without the 27-year-old in it.
Southampton ‘most likely’ to sign Kyle Walker-Peters replacement
Southampton have recently been linked with a move for Bournemouth right-back Max Aarons; a player who Russell Martin wanted last summer.
Aarons decided to join Bournemouth when leaving Norwich City last year but, having fallen out of favour at the Cherries, Southampton could return for the 24-year-old.
Martin’s side have now been linked with a move for another right-sided full-back, though, suggesting that they are keen on ensuring they have an adequate replacement should Walker-Peters depart.
Southampton are said to be the ‘most likely’ destination for Japanese right-back Yukinari Sugawara, with Inter Milan also considering a move.
Sugawara currently plays for AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands and, with just a year left on his contract is expected to cost less than £8.5 million according to One Football.
Yukinari Sugawara would thrive as Walker-Peters successor
Despite beign 23, Sugawara has played in Europe for five years having made the move from his homeland in 2019.
Having become the youngest player to ever be handed a professional contract at Gary Lineker’s former club Nagoya Grampus at 17, the Japan international moved to AZ Alkmaar where he has remained ever since.
Sugawara is a very attack-minded full-back who loves to drive down the right hand side and get crosses and shots away in a similar way to Walker-Peters.
In 42 games in all competitions last season, the defender managed an impressive four goals and nine assists; his attacking qualities seeing him line-up as a right winger at times across his 198 total appearances for the Dutch side.
His versatility does not end there, though, with Sugawara also very capable of playing as a central defender which could be a real asset for Southampton.
In Martin’s possession-dominant side his full-backs are one of the key attacking outlets and Sugawara would undoubtedly thrive in the role Walker-Peters performed last season should the twice-capped England international depart.