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Southampton: Saints striker linked with £10m move away this summer

By Marc Walker

Southampton's Irish-born striker Michael Obafemi (C) celebrates after scoring their late second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on July 13, 2020. - The game finished 2-2. (Photo by Dave Thompson / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DAVE THOMPSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Southampton's Irish-born striker Michael Obafemi (C) celebrates after scoring their late second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on July 13, 2020. - The game finished 2-2. (Photo by Dave Thompson / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DAVE THOMPSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Southampton striker Michael Obafemi has been linked with £10m move away from the club this summer.

According to a report from the Sun, West Midlands duo Aston Villa and West Brom are keen to sign him before the start of the 2020/21 season.

Their article states that Obafemi may look for more first-team action away from St Mary’s this year with Danny Ings, Che Adams and Shane Long ahead of him in the pecking order.

With three very decent looking options ahead of Obafemi at the moment, it may be easy to suggest that losing him would not be a blow to Saints.

The reality is that the club would be able to deal with it but would not get to benefit from his significant potential in years to come.

Michael Obafemi of Southampton (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Michael Obafemi of Southampton (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /

The most important thing to look at here is the Republic of Ireland international’s age and the impressive natural components that make up his game.

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Pace is key to Obafemi and he has shown that he has plenty of it when he is put into the right areas by his teammates. With Saints sometimes utilising counter-attacks to great effect, Obafemi can still be vital.

His 33 appearances for Saints so far have yielded just five goals. However, all of these strikes have shown encouraging aspects that can be nurtured long into the future to make him a very talented striker.

He broke the record for the youngest Saints goalscorer in the Premier League when he netted against Huddersfield Town in the 2018/19 campaign. This finish and strikes against West Ham and Fulham showed good positioning and a calmness in front of goal.

His pace and finishing ability was on show with his effort to put Saints ahead at Chelsea last season and then a real poachers effort gave his side a deserved point away at Manchester United.

If the promise of more game time proves too good to turn down the it may be that a deal is on the horizon. However, he has a manager who really believes in him in Ralph Hasenhuttl and could be part of something special over the next few years if he stays.

Next. Hasenhuttl delighted with new Ward-Prowse contract. dark

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