Southampton have been presented an urgent £3m transfer alarm to bring one of their long-standing fullback targets but the offer may fade quickly from the table.
Though yearly transfer comparisons don't do any good to a club, it feels like Southampton have lost that cheeky touch while addressing the squad's pain points. From going consecutive summers of frugal player picks which turned out to be a masterstroke to now making a mess of contract situations, the transfer chiefs owe an apology to the fans.
Most notably, for their easy going stance on the right side of the defence where Will Still might seek helping hands from make-shift players with the current out of form alternatives. Something like the winter centre-back crisis when the midfielders were asked to avoid their natural playing style to double down on opposition attackers.
On a side note, Will Still could weigh the idea of recalling his Lens starter Przemyslaw Frankowski who has been linked with a St. Mary's switch in the past. Yet, the biggest downside might be the financial hindrances in prizing him from the French League, else, the leader's status he enjoys under the Englishman is unmatched.
Manning can make way for Kesler-Hayden
But the best part about the transfer market is there are some "worth it" backups available for a cut-price fee and though unwillingly but Aston Villa have also made one available.
According to a report from the Telegraph, Villa have reduced Kaine Kesler-Hayden's asking price down to a paltry £3m.
Yes, Southampton won't have a free run there but cashing on a left-sided counterpart in Ryan Manning can fit the bill. With that one defender in, one defender out swap Southampton can improve their defensive age which sticks out as a sore thumb as compared to the youth dominated midfield and attacking departments.
The report mentioned a strict one-week timeframe for the bids, so, let's wait and watch whether the Saints win the race against time.