With the season drawing towards a close, Southampton will be considering their options ahead of the summer transfer window.
But first, Southampton must go to Leeds United for the final game of the regular Championship season.
The play-offs will follow, with a return to the Premier League on offer if Southampton can successfully navigate those post-season contests.
Southampton can begin to narrow down the players they should pursue this summer once they know which league they will play in next season.
Promotion would have a significant impact on the quality of players that manager Russell Martin might bring into the club.
Regardless of whether they win promotion, Southampton should try to buy a striker who has thrived in the Championship.
Southampton should target Jay Stansfield
Jay Stansfield is Birmingham City’s centre-forward.
The 21-year-old joined the club on a season-long loan from Fulham after spending last season with League One Exeter City.
Stansfield’s move to Exeter was an emotional one.
Adam, his father, played for the club from 2006 to 2010, when he died prematurely of cancer at the age of 31.
Exeter had retired his father’s number nine shirt for nine seasons out of respect, and his son, Jay, donned it while on loan at the club.
Stansfield is now establishing his own career and has impressed in a struggling Birmingham side that faces relegation to the third tier on the final day of the season.
The striker, who can also play wide, scored nine goals and assisted seven times in League One last season, according to Transfermarkt.
However, with the promotion to the Championship, Stansfield’s goal tally has increased to 12 goals and two assists.
Two of these goals were against Southampton, one in each of the league games.
At 6 feet 1, the centre-forward is a massive presence with speed to match, which is terrifying for defenders.
He has also had to be resilient, with the Blues on their third management of the season, but he has been one of the few bright spots at St Andrews this season.
Could Stansfield be Southampton starter?
Stansfield is progressing well, which could lead to his parent club Fulham evaluating whether to include the 21-year-old in their roster next season.
The striker signed a new deal with Fulham before joining Birmingham on loan, so the Craven Cottage club will not be under any pressure to sell him, but if he feels unwanted, he may seek a move.
John Eustace, Stansfield’s manager at the start of the season, praised the forward following a victory over Plymouth Argyle in August.
The manager of Blackburn Rovers stated, “Jay is an excellent player.”He comes with a genuine hunger. He has a great pedigree. He came from Exeter, where he was on fire last year, and now he’s at a quality Premier League team that does the right things.
Che Adams is now Southampton’s main striker, but he is out of contract in the summer and anticipated to leave.
Sekou Mara has served as Adams’ deputy this season but, with the exception of a few brilliant cameos over the holidays, has struggled to make an impression.
Mara’s youth has frequently been invoked to justify giving the forward the benefit of the doubt, yet he is the same age as Stansfield and has only three Championship goals this season.
Mara also just served a three-game punishment for an off-the-ball incident against Watford, demonstrating that he cannot be relied on.
Southampton did spent £10 million to bring Ross Stewart to the club last summer, with the Scotland international slated to lead the assault.
Stewart, on the other hand, arrived with an achilles injury and played only 17 minutes of football in November before being effectively sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a separate issue.
Martin has hinted that Stewart may play against Leeds in the season’s final game, although his effect will certainly be felt next season.
Regardless of whether Southampton remain in the Championship, both Adams and Mara could move in the summer.
Stewart would be the club’s lone senior striker given that Adam Armstrong has shown to be significantly more efficient as a winger.
If the Saints make the Championship, signing Stansfield as direct competition for Stewart could provide the team with plenty of firepower if Stewart can stay fit.
Given his potential, a move for Stansfield remains viable if the Saints get promoted, albeit he may be recruited with longer-term goals in mind.
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