Southampton look set to miss out on midfield target to Bournemouth

Southampton look set to miss out on the signing of midfielder and rumoured transfer target Ryan Christie.

According to reports from Sky Sports and Dorset Live’s Jacob Tanswell, Bournemouth look set to pull off a real coup by signing the 26-year-old to join their charge for Championship promotion.

Saints’ interest was first reported back in May when the Scottish Sun suggested they would target a deal after watching Christie play for Scotland at Euro 2020.

More information from the Sun earlier this month made it clear that Saints wanted Christie but they could wait until he is out of contract next summer. This strategy looks to have let Bournemouth in though.

Southampton could have benefitted from signing Christie

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Saints’ pursuit of a central-midfielder is well-documented after Ralph Hasenhuttl confirmed the club could add an extra player in that position. Although Christie does not play centrally and is more of a number 10 or winger, he could have helped to add more depth to Hasenhuttl’s options.

Stuart Armstrong filled in for Saints in central-midfield towards the end of the 2020/21 season and performed admirably in the circumstances and could have been used in that position this campaign too if Christie had been signed.

Christie is a very similar player to the natural Armstrong style that Saints fans have seen in the past two seasons. He is a strong creative presence and can play on either flank whilst having a strong left foot.

His contract situation at Celtic looks set to see them cash in at this stage, but his 41 goals and 44 assists in 151 games has seen him prove great value after his £612k signing from Inverness back in 2015.

Perhaps shifting a player as important as Stuart Armstrong out of his natural role is not seen as a good strategy by Saints given that he has been such a key part of their line-up in the past.