Southampton have already utilised the loan market this summer.
Indeed, they have snapped up Divin Mubama from Manchester City on a season long deal, and while his late cameo at Watford was rather anonymous, a lot will be expected of him, after he scored five goals last season in the Championship with another loan employer in Stoke City.
His arrival means Mubama and Cyle Larin are the two main striker options for the season ahead, with the likes of Cameron Archer and Damion Downs likely to be moved on, before the hectic transfer window closes.
Alongside selling Archer and Downs, to name just a few reserve players at St. Mary's, Eckert and Co. will also desperately want some midfield reinforcements, before September's cut-off arrives, and they could have this signing up their sleeve that sees them snap up another highly rated Premier League player.
The next loan signing Southampton could pick up
As per football outlet OnTheMinute, Southampton are reportedly engaged in a transfer tussle for the services of Manchester United youngster, Dan Gore.
Alongside the Saints being interested, is it noted that Celtic are keen on Gore from Scotland, while Sheffield United and Swansea City make up the other Championship clubs sniffing about.
The report is rather vague on whether a potential deal for Gore to join Eckert's ranks would be a loan or not, with it stated that a permanent move away from the Red Devils might be tempting for the number 44, so he can finally make a name for himself in the senior game, away from the shadow of his boyhood club.
Ethan Williams has just left these illustrious U21 ranks to move to Peterborough United, so it wouldn't be a shock to see Gore also be on the move, whether that's on a loan basis or permanently, and - just like Mubama is providing - he would be a great option to have around the building if he were to sign.
He would be a smart addition
Of course, the worry will be that Gore hasn't exactly set the world alight at his previous loan teams.
Indeed, across two spells at Rotherham United, he would only muster up one goal and four assists. Likewise, he only made one sorry loan appearance for Port Vale.
But, Cameron Bragg was once viewed as a slight flop at Crawley Town on loan, and now he's regularly in the first team under Eckert, with the Scotsman even picking up an assist against Watford.
The German has a knack of getting more out of promising youngsters, which will make this move even more attractive for the four-time England U20 international, who clearly is very talented.
He just hasn't had the correct working environment to get the very best out of him, when studying his hit-and-miss spells in South Yorkshire and Burslem, with his numbers in the United youth teams sticking out, as he has 17 goal contributions for the U18s and U21s.
Dan Gore with a fantastic solo goal today 🔥 pic.twitter.com/5Ic8BEPZB6
— utdreport Academy (@utdreportAcad) September 30, 2023
If he can bring that to the men's game on the South Coast, he would be a smart addition in trying to fill the Shea Charles-shaped void, with 5.3 duels won on average last season on the books of Rotherham also showing off a raw 21-year-old who won't be afraid to launch himself into scraps and duels.
Allegedly on Middlesbrough's shopping list earlier this month, it's clear that he's highly regarded.
Labelled a "leader" by his United youth coach Mark Dempsey, now does feel like the right time for Gore to spread his wings away from the Theatre of Dreams, with Southampton potentially the next club on his budding CV.
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