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Southampton: Opinion – It’s time to cash in on Sam Gallagher

By Chris Hughes

PRESTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Birmingham City's Sam Gallagher celebrates scoring during the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End and Birmingham City at Deepdale on January 20, 2018 in Preston, England. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images)
PRESTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Birmingham City's Sam Gallagher celebrates scoring during the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End and Birmingham City at Deepdale on January 20, 2018 in Preston, England. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images) /
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Although reports are yet to be backed up by another source, it’s believed that Stoke City are keen on a permanent deal for Sam Gallagher.

The English striker returned to the Southampton first team this summer after a fairly average loan spell at Birmingham, and has featured for the senior side so far in pre-season, scoring against Jiangsu Suning.

However despite this Gallagher’s future remains up in the air, with Stoke, Sheffield United and other Championship sides reported keen on the striker’s signature.

Whilst the report comes from the Sun and therefore has to be taken with a pinch of salt, if the Saints are being offered £7 million by Mark Hughes’ former side, then the board simply have to cash in on the 22-year-old.

Many Southampton supporters believed that by signing a new deal last summer, Gallagher was set to be the first-team plans for the 2017/18 campaign following his successful year on loan at Blackburn – however he was very quickly shipped off to Birmingham.

Next. What other business could Southampton do this summer?. dark

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MARCH 15: Sam Gallagher of Southampton celebrates after scoring his teams’ fourth goal despite the efforts of Steven Whittaker of Norwich during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Norwich City at St Mary’s Stadium on March 15, 2014 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MARCH 15: Sam Gallagher of Southampton celebrates after scoring his teams’ fourth goal despite the efforts of Steven Whittaker of Norwich during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Norwich City at St Mary’s Stadium on March 15, 2014 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /

Much like with Josh Sims, supporters are desperate for the club to continue their tradition of giving academy graduates experience with the senior side, but sadly they also need to prioritise having quality players in the first team.

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Sims could still play a part this season with Southampton’s only other natural wingers being Nathan Redmond and Mohamed Elyounoussi, but with Gallagher it’s tough to see him getting into the first team.

Furthermore, Mark Hughes has stated the club will not recruit any more players without trimming the squad down first, and despite Guido Carrillo’s loan to Leganes the Saints still have four natural strikers on their books.

Southampton supporters have been crying out for a physical, target man-type striker all summer, with Maxi Gomez, Bas Dost, Nicolai Jorgensen and Nils Petersen all viable options for the club.

However, if a deal for a new forward cannot be completed until Gallagher’s future is settled, then the Saints need to cash in now, or risk seeing further targets have their futures settled, much like with two wingers who joined Premier League rivals yesterday evening.

Granted, Gallagher could potentially fill that void of a Graziano Pelle-esque forward, but it’d prove much more of a risk as he’s yet to enjoy a really prolific season in the second tier.

Therefore, especially after the past campaign, it seems like a better option to sell the 22-year-old Englishman and instead bring in a more accomplished replacement.