Southampton's latest target is more likely to anger the Saints fans than excite them. If transfer rumours are to be believed, Southampton have scouted an 18-year-old attacking midfielder who plays for Wigan Athletic, and they are preparing a bid to sign him on a permanent deal.
In essence, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If the player turns out to be very good, the club could benefit in both quality and future profits.
But what will anger fans more than please them is that he's not what the club need right now.
Wigan Athletic's wonder-kid at the heart of transfer rumour
Harrison Bettoni has scored three goals in 14 League One matches for Wigan Athletic this season. He is 18-years-old and can play either as an attacking midfielder or as a central striker. Despite having an Italian-sounding surname, Bettoni is an Englishman born in Stockport
Bettoni ranks among the top 6% of goal-scoring attacking midfielders in League One. Scoring on average 0.74 goals per ninety minutes, it's easy to understand why Southampton are so interested.
In comparison, Dominic Ballard averages 0.79 goals per ninety and is an out-and-out centre-forward at Leyton Orient. At 20 years old, many fans will feel that Ballard was worth a new deal at St Mary's, but contrary to the club's transfer policy, young players with a high ceiling seem no longer required.
Pressure mounts on two key figures at the club
Defeat at home to Hull City on Saturday has heaped pressure on both the sporting director, Johannes Spors, and Southampton's rookie Head Coach, Tonda Eckert.
Since taking on the role permanently, Eckert's side has won just twice in nine matches.
Most Southampton fans have seen enough, and many roundly turned on the board at St Mary's on Saturday. Boos at half-time punctuated the air as the Northam stand serenaded the Sport Republic board with chants of “get out of our club...Sport Republic, get out of our club“ and “sack the board.“
Cries of “you don't know what you're doing“ were clearly aimed at the manager after he withdrew Tom Fellows shortly after switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation.
If the pressure is mounting on Tonda Eckert, he is blatantly refusing to accept it, telling reporters he isn't concerned about his position as Southampton Head Coach. He should be.
Two very tough matches are probably all that stand between Eckert keeping his job and still being in charge by Valentine's Day. Having described his relationship with the club as a marriage going through a rocky patch, it's clear that the honeymoon period is well and truly over. Divorce could be just around the corner.
An unthinkable defeat at Fratton Park on Sunday could be the final straw for Southampton fans, and Johannes Spors should perhaps take the lion's share of the responsibility. It is Spors who appointed both Will Still and, later, Tonda Eckert. It is Spors who has sanctioned the sale of Ronnie Edwards yet offered Jack Stephens a 3-year deal.
With the club deep in crisis, Southampton need to improve the playing staff now. Adding another 18-year-old to the academy is not the signing that Saints fans want to be reading about here!