Southampton star will hope his first team chance comes even with Daniel Peretz signing

Heading into the new Championship season, it's clear that Daniel Peretz will be Southampton's number one goalkeeper option.

Peretz arrived in January as a breath of fresh air, after the error-ridden performances of Gavin Bazunu, with a sublime eight clean sheets collected, from only 22 appearances.

With George Long also rejoining the ranks, after his own loan spell, Tonda Eckert has both the Israel international and the ex-Norwich City stopper to fall on in-between the sticks, as both Bazunu and the forgotten Aaron Ramsdale look to move on from the South Coast.

An even more overlooked figure in goal at the moment - away from the former England international - is Ollie Wright, but unlike the Irishman and the one-time Arsenal presence, he looks to have a long-lasting future at St. Mary's, with a new contract recently agreed until 2029.

Loaned out to Gillingham for the 2025/26 season right after agreeing this extension, the 23-year-old is a promising future talent, with plenty of formative loan experiences under his belt.

Wright's promising performances out on loan

The Bath-born stopper has 55 Saints appearances under his belt in both the U18 and U21 ranks, but he's more well-known for his several loan stints away from his boyhood club.

Playing for the likes of Yeovil Town and Solihull Moors in the National League previously, he really came into his own last campaign on the temporary books of Accrington Stanley.

Indeed, from 47 appearances, Wright collected an impressive 12 clean sheets, leading to the accolade of Manager's Player of the Year falling into his lap, alongside further gaining recognition from his playing peers, when winning the Player's Player of the Year award.

Clearly, Southampton were impressed, as they activated the decision to renew his deal, with lots of eyes on the Gills this coming season from a South Coast perspective, to see how the 23-year-old fares at another lower league outfit.

While Wright will be happy with how his loan spell went in Lancashire, he will be hoping senior chances come his way at Southampton soon.

But, the 6-foot-4 keeper is fighting against time...

Will his Saints opportunity ever come?

Ultimately, while he has shown himself to be a competent stopper in the lower divisions of the EFL, the Championship is a different kettle of fish entirely.

Bazunu is a prime case of a promising keeper flopping in the second tier, with Peretz having to come to the rescue.

It's unlikely, even if Wright were to excel again in League Two, that the 23-year-old will make the necessary strides to break into Eckert's first team picture, as Long would be preferred to him, as a Championship experienced face.

He will have his fingers crossed that he finally make a senior appearance for his boyhood club at some stage, but if Premier League action were to return to St. Mary's, it becomes even more unlikely that he would surprisingly break into the men's fold.

Clearly, Southampton see a lot in Wright to extend his deal.

But, there needs to be a healthy dose of realism, too, that the academy product isn't getting any younger now, with a permanent move away from St. Mary's perhaps greeting him in the near future.

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