There is a rumour doing the rounds that Southampton might pursue Issa Doumbia from Venezia.
The reports go further. They suggest Saints could sign him and then loan him back to the Italian club for the rest of this season. That is a plan that should give supporters cause for concern.
It would be odd business for a club with promotion ambitions and a squad that still needs players ready to contribute now.
This is not simply a question about potential
Doumbia is a promising midfielder. His performances in Italy’s second tier have caught the eye. He has energy and athleticism. Those qualities are attractive, particularly to a club with Southampton's transfer approach. But the question this time is not about raw potential. It is about timing and impact.
Southampton are in the middle of a tough League campaign. Every point matters. Every selection choice matters. Tonda Eckert needs players he can call upon immediately, not ones who will spend the next few months playing elsewhere.
If Saints are serious about pushing for automatic promotion, they must recruit for now, not later.
Sending Doumbia straight back to Venezia would feel like a missed opportunity. It would be signing a player for the long term while ignoring the pressing needs of the present.
The Championship is unforgiving. Squad depth is tested every week. Injuries and suspensions take their toll. When you bring players in, you need them to step into the group and make a difference.
This ridiculous notion is obvious to everyone except Sport Republic
This is not about questioning Doumbia’s ability. It is about logic. If you believe a player will be a good addition in the future, why delay his integration into the team? Why not have him train with the squad, adapting to the pace and physicality, learning how Southampton want to play? Loaning him immediately back to Italy prevents all of that.
Southampton have made this mistake before. They have bought potential and shelved it - Juan Larios is a case in point. They think they have secured talent, only to watch that talent develop elsewhere while their own season drifts. Southampton cannot afford that right now.
The argument for signing Doumbia at some point is understandable. He has upside. He could be part of Southampton’s future. That future, though, should not come at the cost of the present. A loan-back deal would be a delay disguised as a strategy.
Southampton should take a clear view. If they want Issa Doumbia, sign him and bring him in now. If not, move on and find someone who can contribute without delay. Anything else risks repeating the same mistakes that Sport Republic have been making for too long.
This deal cannot be about improving the squad and getting the club back to the Premier League. This is quite obviously about buying a player who could be sold later for profit. Saints fans deserve more than that, and this is Sport Republic at its absolute worst.