Why Southampton should join the race for the Premier League’s brightest young prodigy

The January transfer window feels like a long time away as Southampton are currently embroiled in the latter stages of the Spygate saga.

Indeed, it will soon come to light what Tonda Eckert's individual punishment is for all the espionage that took place last season in the Championship, with a hope he is handed just a touchline ban, and he isn't banned from the game completely for a substantial amount of time.

When all is said and done on this, the next dramatic event on the calendar is the mid-season transfer window, away from the hustle and bustle of second tier action, and the Saints should consider entering into the race for this bright young prodigy from the Premier League.

Southampton should try and enter this race

It has been reported by TEAMTalk that Arsenal's teenage sensation Max Dowman is being looked at by several Championship suitors ahead of the January window opening.

It is claimed that Mikel Arteta is open to the idea of loaning out Dowman, who is remarkably in and around the Gunners first team picture, already, despite only being 16 years of age.

The clubs listed who are keen on Dowman include Wolverhampton Wanderers, Norwich City, and Burnley from the Championship, while newly promoted Coventry City are also keeping tabs on the insanely talented number 56's loan situation.

Southampton should try and position themselves somewhere in this frantic queue for the starlet's loan services, as he would offer Eckert's men more depth in the attacking positions.

He can play as a right winger, or as an attacking midfielder, meaning he could give the Saints a burst of energy, away from relying on Kuryu Matsuki and Finn Azaz.

He wouldn't fear the Championship, either, having become the Premier League's youngest-ever goalscorer for Arteta's giants last season, on their way to triumphantly lifting the top-flight title, when scoring this terrific breakaway goal against Everton.

Moreover, the South Coast side are well-known for giving the next generation of elite footballers time to shine, so Dowman could fancy St Mary's as his short-term loan destination, if he is loaned out shortly.

He could fancy a move to St. Mary's

Indeed, Arsenal and Southampton have quite the connection when it comes to up-and-coming youngsters breaking through.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was around Dowman's tender age when he first made waves in the senior set-up at St. Mary's, with the current Celtic midfielder going on to sign for the North London titans for around the £15m mark in 2011.

Theo Walcott is another figure that immediately springs to mind when thinking about the Saints and the Gunners in tandem, so Dowman might see Eckert and Co. as a good, natural fit, knowing what came before him.

Additionally, if Eckert is kept in his job, he is well-known for utilising youngsters in his first team set-up, with Cameron Bragg a regular in the senior side now, having risen up the ranks at his boyhood club.

The German's love of doing this comes from his U21 education at St. Mary's, before he was handed the main manager's gig, and he would be eager to work alongside Dowman, that's for sure, who has been hailed as "not normal" by Arteta for how swimmingly he has taken to the men's game.

The one-of-a-kind 16-year-old would demand first-team minutes, with four senior goal contributions next to his name now at the Emirates.

It would rest on Eckert finding the correct starting XI that would play to Dowman's strengths, while also keeping his regular personnel happy.

You would imagine something could be worked out, as if the opportunity arose for the promotion candidates to get their hands on the teenage phenomenon, they should go all out to make it happen, before Dowman is dining at tables way out of the Saints' reach.

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