Will Smallbone will be searching for a new permanent club to call home this summer, which will be a unique feeling for the former Southampton youth product.
Up until this summer, Smallbone had only ever known the pastures of St. Mary's as his fixed habitat, having been on the Saints roster since 2008.
Eventually emerging into the first team picture, after many a year in the youth set-up on the South Coast, it was a sad ending to his long-standing Southampton journey when he was released this off-season.
Yet, while it was melancholic, it was, arguably, an exit that was expected, as his injury issues had piled up, leaving him with only ten meagre appearances out on loan at Millwall last campaign.
There have been zero transfer rumours offering some insight as to what the Republic of Ireland's next destination will be, but it doesn't take a Sherlock to work out what a plausible step forward could be...
Smallbone's next club feels inevitable
With both Danny Ings and Alex McCarthy set to link up with their ex-Saints boss Russell Martin at Leicester City, could Smallbone soon be another former Southampton star that retreats to League One with the Foxes?
Realistically, the 26-year-old would want to stick it out in the Championship, as he has 17 career goal contributions under his belt at the taxing level.
But, after a miserable ten-game stay at the Den, Smallbone could perhaps do with a drop down a division, particularly if it means he can be surrounded by former St. Mary's individuals who were there with him during his Saints peak.
With the Midlands giants likely to lose Harry Winks soon, as well, from their central midfield ranks, the one-time Premier League champions would not turn their noses up at the £0 arrival of Smallbone.
It could prove to be just what he needs
Smallbone enjoyed the brightest patch of his Southampton career when Martin was situated in the St. Mary's dug-out.
All but four of the Irishman's goal contributions in the first team ranks on the South Coast came under the reign of the Scotsman, with a stunning seven goals and four assists collected from 54 games when Smallbone was front and centre of Martin's midfield plans.
Smallbone's career numbers under Martin:
Stat under Martin | Smallbone |
|---|---|
Games played | 54 |
Minutes played | 3755 mins |
Goals | 7 |
Assists | 4 |
Promotions won | 1 |
All these goals and assists would culminate in the Saints winning promotion up to the Premier League at the close of the memorable 2023/24 season, with Smallbone even scoring in the playoff semi finals against West Bromwich Albion to crucially break the second leg deadlock.
If Smallbone can brush off his recent recurring injury issues, he could become a key part of the Leicester team trying to win their own promotion back to the Championship, with Martin a huge fan of the 6-foot ace.
Indeed, he would note, in the midst of the sensational promotion heroics during the 23/24 season, that the 26-year-old was a "brilliant player and an even better character".
Therefore, after landing both Ings and McCarthy, he would surely be another former colleague he would jump for joy about if he could manage him once more.
The mention of him being a "even better character" will be music to Leicester fans' ears as well, if a move were to get off the ground, as the Foxes camp has become more and more toxic over recent years, with back-to-back relegations seriously souring the mood.
Smallbone has been put through the wringer himself, but he would be desperate to succeed at the King Power if an expected move whirred into motion, with Southampton fans no doubt wishing their former prodigy the best from afar.
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