Cyle Larin will be keen to show Southampton fans next season that his nine-goal loan stint wasn't a fluke.
Rather, the Canadian will want to continue showing off that he's ageing like a fine wine in front of goal, as he hits 31 years of age, with an inspired World Cup campaign so far, which has seen him score against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar, showing off an attacker full to the brim with confidence.
It would be a little daft, despite his goalscoring exploits, to expect him to carry the burden of being the Saints' only potent threat up top, with Ross Stewart failing to agree a new deal to stay put.
Therefore, a new striker recruit is an arguable must this summer, and the Saints must be tempted to go back in for this experienced figure to boost their attacking ranks.
Saints must be tempted to sign this striker
It isn't set in stone just yet, but it does appear likely that Callum Wilson will walk away from West Ham United this off-season.
If that is the case, Southampton could be in the queue for the veteran striker's short-term services, as per a report from TransferFeed.
Alongside Tonda Eckert's men being in the race to land the ageing Englishman, who is currently older than the German at 34 years of age, it is noted that Celtic and Hull City are also interested, alongside his hometown club of Coventry City, who he previously lined up for during their League One doldrum years.
In terms of game-time, Southampton could be the most appealing next onward destination for the nine-time England international, with a Larin 2.0 story potentially playing out, if the West Ham number nine were to leave the London Stadium behind shortly for St. Mary's.
He could be Larin 2.0
Wilson hasn't quite lived out the same globetrotting career as the Canadian, but he is known as a journeyman in England, much like Larin is recognised as being nomadic.
He has called six clubs home during his extensive career in England, and at the majority of them, just like the affectionately nicknamed Brampton Bagsman, he has proven himself to be a lethal marksman when performing at full pelt.
Larin & Wilson's career numbers:
Stat | Larin | Wilson |
|---|---|---|
Games played | 376 | 427 |
Clubs played for | 8 | 6 |
Goals | 125 | 148 |
Assists | 37 | 49 |
His killer instinct in front of goal during the 2014/15 season, in particular, for AFC Bournemouth will stick out here, when casting a wide eye over his goal-filled career, with a deadly 20 goals and 13 assists clinched in the Championship as the Cherries won promotion to the Premier League.
In 2015, Eddie Howe - who was his Bournemouth manager - even said that Wilson has everything in his locker that is required to be a perfect "modern-day striker."
It's in the Premier League where he has mainly made a name for himself, with a further 95 goals put away in the intense division, but throw him back into the second tier, and he won't exactly look out of place, with his ability to conjure up a goal from nothing - like Larin - standing him in good stead to be an instant success story.
At 34 years of age, he wouldn't be a flashy arrival.
But, if Larin's addition is anything to go by, it could be another signing that initially slips under the radar, but ends up working wonders for Eckert's attacking ranks, with the one-time second-tier champion surely eager to end his far-reaching playing days on a positive note.
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