Southampton's interest in Justin Njinmah should end right now
Having scored just five goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances for Werder Bremen this season, Njinmah averaged a less-than-impressive rating of 6.63 on fotmob.com and provided zero assists in a side that barely managed to stay in the Bundesliga.
Southampton are reportedly interested in the 25-year-old 'marksman' with Hull City, freshly promoted to the Premier League, competing for his signature.
Here is a suggestion. Let Hull have him and save the money for someone more worthwhile.
The comparison that makes this simple
Before Southampton spend a single penny on Njinmah, someone at Staplewood should sit down, pull up Damion Downs' file and look at it very carefully indeed.
Downs is 21 years old, stands 6 ft 4 in tall and scored 11 goals to help FC Köln win the 2. Bundesliga title two seasons ago. He signed a four-year contract last summer, earns £12,500 per week and has barely played for Southampton. Will Still gave up on him early, and Tonda Eckert didn't even bother to give him a chance.
Njinmah is 25, earns considerably more than Downs and hasn't set pulses racing in Germany. He is not significantly better than Downs, who has yet to be given an opportunity.
Here is how the two compare:
Player | Age | Apps | Goals | Assists | Rating | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Justin Njinmah | 25 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 6.63 | 2028 |
Damion Downs | 21 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6.01 | 2029 |
Downs' rating is lower, but the context is really important here. He made five Championship appearances in a team struggling under Will Still and was barely used. Njinmah played 33 Bundesliga games and could manage only five goals and precisely no assists. Four years younger, significantly cheaper and contracted until 2029, Downs represents far better value on every meaningful level.
Getting value from what you already own
Southampton spent around £7 million on Downs last summer, and he has three years left on his deal. The club has invested significant money in a player they have not yet given a genuine opportunity to prove himself, and signing Njinmah to fill a role Downs might comfortably occupy is not smart recruitment.
It is the kind of panic buying that leaves clubs with bloated squads, frustrated players and wage bills that make it increasingly difficult to sustain a promotion challenge as the season wears on. Johannes Spors surely won't let that happen.
Tonda Eckert gave Downs almost nothing last season. With Cyle Larin already signed permanently and a full pre-season ahead, this is the ideal moment to find out whether that £7 million investment was money well spent.
Njinmah is not a bad player, and five Bundesliga goals is a perfectly decent return for a wide forward used largely from the bench. But decent enough is not what Southampton need this summer. They need to back their own judgement and trust the players they already have at the club.
Hull City want Njinmah. Southampton should wish them well, step aside and get on with giving Damion Downs the chance he has been waiting for since the day he arrived.
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