Southampton have acted swiftly again. That is not panic and it is planning. The club have moved quickly to line up Harris Afzal from Queen’s Park because elite academies never stand still.
Planning ahead, not standing still
Sufianu Sillah Dibaga’s rise has been a good news story. He stepped into the first team and he has been rewarded with an improved professional contract. When a young player accelerates like that, the pathway behind him must be refilled.
Saints appear to understand this because they have agreed a fee with Queen’s Park for 16-year-old Afzal. The attacking left-back has already trained with Sean Crighton’s first team in Scotland. He is young but he has not been wrapped in cotton wool.
Afzal has impressed coming through the ranks at Queen’s Park. Rangers and Celtic were watching him and several English clubs were circling. Southampton have chosen to steal a march because hesitation costs you talent.
He was given permission to visit and trial at St Mary’s weeks ago. That visit clearly left an impression. Saints are now working to finalise terms quickly because they want him embedded in their academy structure without delay.
This is not random recruitment. It is targeted and it is decisive.
Saints look north for the next success story
Southampton have a history of looking north of the border. They have struck gold before with players such as Virgil van Dijk, Fraser Forster, Victor Wanyama and Stuart Armstrong. They understand the Scottish market and they respect it.
They also tried to bring in Rory Whittaker from Hibs last summer. The strategy is clear because Saints believe there is value and quality in young Scottish talent.
Queen’s Park have a respected youth set-up although recent cutbacks have hurt them. That may have opened the door here. Southampton have walked through it quickly and confidently.
Afzal is an attacking left-back. He is brave going forward and he is comfortable in possession. Those traits fit the modern Saints blueprint.
Replacing Sillah Dibaga in the academy was necessary because development is a conveyor belt. If you remove one piece, you must add another. Afzal would do well to follow Sillah Dibaga's lead in working hard and maintaining a positive attitude.
This is not ruthless. It is smart squad building at youth level.
Southampton have done exactly the right thing. They have planned ahead and they have acted early and they have protected the pathway.