Tonda Eckert could win Southampton's next Shane Long by signing Premier League striker

As we edge closer to November in the Championship fixture list, we aren't far off the January transfer window opening back up.

Heading into the mid-season window, Southampton will have some areas on the pitch that they would like to strengthen in.

The main problem area is up top, with Cyle Larin experiencing some concerning injury problems as of late.

When you remove the seven goal marksman from the first team picture, there isn't many potent strikers who can fill his gap, with Lewis Dobbin looking unsure in his place last time out against Bolton Wanderers.

Rumours suggest that the South Coast side remain keen on this Premier League striker heading into January, as they size up who they should go after to bolster the centre-forward spot at St. Mary's.

Southampton remain keen on fringe Premier League striker

Several reports filtering through all point in the direction of Southampton keeping tabs on Leeds United attacker Lukas Nmecha, ahead of a possible January move.

TEAMTalk state that Tonda Eckert's promotion chasers are "monitoring developments" regarding the ex-Wolfsburg striker, with the likes of Wrexham, and FC Koln, also interested in a possible move for the reserve Elland Road presence.

Football Insider has come out to state that Leeds would need to seal a replacement for Nmecha before they would sanction a sale.

Moreover, he is out of contract in the summer, so the Saints might well want to play the long game with the 27-year-old, knowing they could grab him for nothing when the 2026/27 campaign has concluded.

Yet, if an opening was to pop up in January, for a decent price, the South Coast giants might well win his services, with Nmecha perhaps becoming Eckert's own modern day Shane Long figure, for being an unflashy, but reliable marksman.

He could be their next Shane Long

Long was never one for the spotlight during his long stay at St. Mary's.

He did score some memorable strikes across his 245 game stay with the club, with Long forever etched into the Premier League history books for bagging the fastest goal ever recorded in top-flight history, having scored after a breakneck 7.69 seconds against Watford in 2019.

Yet, he was never the main man, with the Irishman often having to play second fiddle, to a more eye-catching first-teamer, such as Graziano Pelle.

He didn't throw a wobbly, though, with his consistent lack of minutes, as he still managed to collect 37 goals and 24 assists, when often utilised late into games.

Ralph Hasenhuttl would praise the now-retired striker back in 2022 for being a "role model" for others to follow, for how he always got on with his business professionally.

Additionally, after scoring against Everton that same year, he would further be noted as being "always ready when he’s needed" by the delighted Austrian, with the Saints in dire need of an impact player like Long in the here and now, to make up for Larin's persistent injury issues.

Nmecha could well be just the man they're looking for, as he notched up a quietly impressive six goals and one assist last season in the Premier League for Daniel Farke's men, from only ten starts.

He has an assist next to his name this campaign, as well, despite only averaging 15 minutes of action per league contest, so he should be able to deliver the goods in the Championship.

Nmecha would likely be moving to St. Mary's in the pursuit of more game-time, but he surely wouldn't complain about being slightly down the pecking order, next to an attacker of Larin's acumen.

It has all the makings of being a very shrewd deal if pulled off, with Nmecha sticking out as a selfless team player, who can score some vital goals here and there, just like the always patient Long once provided.

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