Southampton: Saints midfielder set for loan move to League One club

Southampton winger Josh Sims is set to move on loan to League One club Doncaster Rovers before the English domestic transfer window ends tomorrow.

According to the Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, Sims will complete his move to South Yorkshire before tomorrow’s transfer deadline.

The 23-year-old does not look like breaking into the Saints first-team this season and has fallen away since the lofty heights he reached back in 2016/17.

One memorable Sims moment that fans will remember was his superb run from the edge of his own penalty area and subsequent assist for Shane Long in the League Cup semi-final win over Liverpool.

Despite this and other impressive flashes of brilliance, he has since been sent out on loan to Reading and New York Red Bulls.

It will also be intriguing to see whether any other players on the fringes of Saints’ squad move out to get game time.

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There was a distinct lack of loan departures in the international window that ended last week but it will be important for the club and players that some get valuable senior minutes under their belt.

The introduction of the new Saints B team in place of the original Under-23s has moved the youth system even closer to the senior team than usual but some may seek opportunities elsewhere.

Callum Slattery and Jake Hesketh are two who have recently appeared for the B team but have had loan spells away from the club in the past. It remains to be seen whether they will be wanting to stay playing academy football this year.

Another loan spell away may not be the end for Sims at Saints.

He was sent to New York Red Bulls on the advice of Ralph Hasenhuttl who wanted him to play at a team with a similar style to Saints – they are, of course, affiliated with Hasenhuttl’s old club RB Leipzig.

Sims will certainly have to prove that he can develop into a player of worth soon though given that he is fast approaching his mid-twenties.