Southampton: Saints Marching’s weekly poll – edition 8

Every week Saints Marching runs a poll on it’s Twitter account to get the views of the Southampton fanbase on a topical subject.

Slightly delayed because of new year, this week’s poll was centered around the recurring transfer rumour that just won’t go away. Theo Walcott’s potential homecoming has only gathered pace since the Saints sold Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool for a hefty £75 million.

The Englishman has previously been linked with the Saints in the past, but the winger’s steep wages have always been the issue.

Fraser Forster is believed to be the club’s highest earner but even his wages are reportedly beneath the six-figure mark, with Walcott on the other hand earning in excess of £140,000 at the Gunners.

Therefore, whilst the 28-year-old would only cost the Saints around £15 million, he would earn nearly twice that if he were to spend four years back on the south coast.

With other options available on lower wages, it remains unclear whether the Saints should gamble on the injury-prone Walcott or look for a cheaper alternative across Europe.

The long-serving Gunner has spent plenty of time in the physio room since moving to north London and when he’s had runs in the first time he’s been inconsistent a lot of the time. Last season Walcott scored 19 goals, the same amount as he had in the previous three seasons combined.

More from Saints Marching

• Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 2: Arrivals
• Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 1: Departures
• It’s time to talk about Gavin Bazunu
• Rain clouds on the horizon? Southampton beat Plymouth Argyle
• A lament for Southampton legend James Ward-Prowse

This time around he’s continued a rich vein of form in Europe but has fired blanks in each his five league appearances.

Earlier this winter the Saints were linked with Basel winger Mohamed Elyounoussi – whilst the rumour might be of all been smoke, a player like the Norweigan would cost similar if not less than Walcott and his wages could be a low as third of the Englishman’s.

At the end of the day though, from those who voted, the general consensus was that the experienced pedigree that Walcott would bring would be worth the risk. He knows the league better than arguably any of the Saints’ current crop and would be a leader in the squad.

58% of the voters were in agreement that Southampton neeed to press on and make the pacey winger the side’s first signing on the January window.