Southampton do not need to overthink this one. They must sign Daniel Peretz on a permanent deal.
The goalkeeper himself has already said it would be “logical” to stay, and that tells you everything about how both sides feel.
Peretz arrived on loan from Bayern Munich and quickly became the number one. He has settled and he has delivered and he has shown calmness under pressure.
There is also an option to sign him permanently for around €8 million. In modern football, that is a reasonable fee for a goalkeeper of his age and quality.
And crucially, that deal can be done whether Southampton are promoted or not. That is why this decision should already be made.
Sport Republic should act swiftly and decisively to get this logical deal done, despite not knowing their Championship fate just yet.
A difference maker now and next season
Peretz has already shown he can make a difference.
He has kept clean sheets, and he has brought composure to a defence that had been shaky, to say the least, until his arrival. He commands his area, and he makes important saves. His man-of-the match performances against both Coventry City and Norwich City have kept Southampton in the promotion race.
If the Saints stay in the Championship, then Peretz becomes even more important. Promotion battles are tight, margins are small, and goalkeepers often decide outcomes. He has the presence to earn those crucial points.
If the Saints go up, then Peretz is still a strong option. He may not be the finished article, but he is reliable, improving, and relatively comfortable with the ball at his feet.
That matters in the Premier League because teams build from the back.
He also fits the Southampton model. He is young enough at 25-years-old to develop and experienced enough to contribute now.
Now is not the time to hesitate
Saints have had success before when they backed goalkeepers at the right time. They cannot afford to hesitate here.
This feels like a natural fit. Peretz has said it himself. It feels like the right move because he is playing regularly and growing into the role.
And the squad benefits too. A settled goalkeeper brings confidence to the whole team and that stability spreads across the pitch.
Southampton have made mistakes in the past by waiting too long or missing the moment. This is not one of those times.
The evidence is clear. The price is reasonable. The player wants it.
Now the club must act.
Because whether it is the Championship or the Premier League, Daniel Peretz looks like a goalkeeper Southampton can build around.