Southampton could be about to make a summer transfer they will regret, with a move for a player who has spent the last season in Saudi Arabia.
Russell Martin will be happy with Southampton‘s start to the off-season, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Adam Lallana and Charlie Taylor all already signed up for 2024/25.
The Saints boss saw his impressive first campaign as manager of the south coast club rewarded as the contract extension he had agreed, as exclusively reported by Southampton FC News, was announced by the club on Tuesday.
Harwood-Bellis’ loan move being made permanent for £20 million was all but guaranteed as it had been negotiated that Southampton would pay Manchester City the money if promoted, but it is a good signing nonetheless.
With Lallana and Taylor both signing for free upon the expiration of their respective contracts, Southampton have done some astute early business ahead of a return to the Premier League.
However, they could now be set to make their first mistake of the summer with a move for a player who forced a move to Saudi Arabia last year.
Southampton linked with move for Demarai Gray
That player is Demarai Gray, who effectively went on strike to force a move from Everton to Saudi club Al-Ettifaq at the backend of the 2022/23 season.
With last season’s loanee Ryan Fraser expected to join permanently this summer, Martin is believed to want at least one more winger added to his squad ready for next season.
That search appears to have taken Martin and Southampton to Saudi Arabia, with GiveMeSport reporting that the club are ‘considering whether to offer Demarai Gray a route back to the Premier League’.
The report states that Al-Ettifaq are ‘yet to receive any official offers’ but that Bournemouth and Galatasary are also interested in the 28-year-old who has three years left on his Saudi deal.
Southampton would be making mistake with move for Gray
Given Martin’s insistence on having players who buy into his philosophy and contribute to the tight-knit group of players, it would seem strange he would be keen on bringing in Gray.
Gray had a very public feud with Everton manager Sean Dyche prior to sealing his Saudi move last summer.
Having not featured, Gray took to Instagram following the Toffees’ draw with Sheffield United days before his departure where he posted: “Everton fans have always been great with me. But it’s so difficult to play for someone who doesn’t show you respect as a person.”
Speaking on the incident, Dyche lamented the attitude of the Jamaica international, saying: “It’s an unfortunate one because I try to keep our business in-house. I think on this occasion, it’s right to reply.
“Demarai made it clear that he felt he was getting a move [away from Everton], and he told us a move was done, which was interesting to hear from a player.
“We reminded him of the truth of the fact that no moves are done without this club’s say so. That’s the truth of it.”
He went on to claim Gray refused to train in the lead-up to the deal, as he added: “When it comes to a time like that, then you go, ‘Well, hang on a minute. You made it clear you didn’t want to train, you didn’t want to be here, and you also said there was a move that was a done deal’.”
Given he is currently on a contract worth a massive £94k-a-week and scored just four goals in his season at Al-Ettifaq, this is a deal Southampton should avoid in order to maintain squad harmony as well as seek a better alternative on the pitch.
