Southampton could live to regret selling Cameron Archer as interest intensifies

Cameron Archer featured for Southampton against Eastleigh but he could soon be shown the door.

Indeed, the number 19 has never quite fit in at the Saints, with a weak 11 goals coming his way from 76 appearances.

He did look sharp in brief spurts during the pre-season runout at the Silverlake Stadium, with Daily Echo journalist Alfie House stating that his attitude has remained "spot on" despite all his off-field speculation, but the time does feel right to part ways.

Southampton will want to strike while the iron is hot, so to speak, as it is being reported that Archer has plenty of suitors, despite his up-and-down form on the South Coast.

Archer on the move

It is being reported that West Bromwich Albion is very keen on landing Archer, who once came through the academy at nearby Aston Villa, before calling the Championship home.

The rumoured fee put forward by the Baggies is £5m, but as per West Brom-focused journalist Lewis Cox, the Midlands side will face 'substantial' competition from other second tier clubs who also want a slice of Archer.

The £5m put forward also won't be turning Southampton's head, as they forked out £15m for the Walsall-born striker's signature in 2024.

Safe to say, two years on, that gamble in the market hasn't paid off, with the Saints having to cut their losses somewhat to try and sell the 24-year-old.

Realistically, this is the best move for all parties involved, with Archer clamouring for more first team action that will likely not be afforded to him at St. Mary's, as Cyle Larin is way ahead of him in the food chain.

The worry will still be there, though, that Southampton will live to regret this decision, as the Baggies might win Archer's services for a slashed amount, and get the potent second tier goalscorer back out of him that Tonda Eckert's side never could.

Southampton could live to regret this decision

When the Saints forked out that hefty wad of cash on Archer, they thought they'd won a deadly striker who could strut his stuff in the Premier League, after some extremely efficient seasons in the EFL.

It hasn't worked out, but there were glimpses in his performances last season that showed off an attacker who can turn on the style at a moment's notice, with seven goal contributions collected from limited starts.

West Brom will want to unearth his free-flowing best at Middlesbrough and Preston North End, again, with the 5-foot-11 attacker bagging a ridiculous 11 strikes for Boro during the 2022/23 campaign, from just 20 Championship starts.

Once noted as being an "instinctive clinical finisher" for the level by football scout Ben Mattinson, the South Coast side must ponder why they have never been able to give Archer a platform to soar, like his Teesside glory days.

With seven strikes also amassed on the books of the Lilywhites, despite only lining up for 20 games at Deepdale, it's clear that he has a red-hot streak in him, even if he has failed to spark into life at St. Mary's.

At the back of Southampton's mind - if a move is agreed - will be the fact he could transform back into that goalscoring machine, again, far away from the South Coast, with West Brom potentially becoming a force to be reckoned with near the top of the division with the £5m addition of Archer.

Boro snuck into the playoffs, after all, when the Walsall-born hotshot was on their roster, with the Saints hopeful they can still have a red-hot forward line themselves - as the youth continue to impress this off-season - after selling the £15m flop, that means promotion is on the cards at St. Mary's.

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