Southampton are reportedly in the running to sign Motherwell's exciting playmaker, Elijah Just, and he could be just the player the Saints need next season.
The buzz at St Mary's is that Finn Azaz is in need of some support in the number ten role. When Azaz struggled in games, Southampton struggled. Another ten is not just a desirable, it is an essential.
Just fits the bill perfectly
Motherwell's 26-year-old attacking midfielder is certainly catching the eye at the World Cup. His brace for New Zealand against Iran in the All Whites' opening game was sensational.
Just's first goal, after a touch from Chris Wood, showed how deadly he is. Switching the ball from one foot to the other, in very little space, Just fired his shot high into the net.
What followed was the biggest clue yet that a Southampton move could be on the cards. As the Kiwi made his way to the corner flag to celebrate, he mimicked Taylor Harwood-Bellis' binoculars celebration, referencing the Spygate 2.0 scandal.
"It is a memory that'll last me for the rest of my life," Just said after a standout display.
"It's incredible. It's not something I could even have dreamt of, so I'm just so happy. One was nice, so two was amazing."
His second goal was another demonstration of a player arriving in the box and finishing coolly. It's easy to see how Just and Azaz could be interchangeable in a new-look Southampton side for the 2026-27 season.
Tonda Eckert would no doubt be delighted to have another attacking midfielder joining the club, particularly if either Léo Scienza or Shea Charles leaves as expected.
Southampton Chairman Dragan Solak has already publicly backed his apologetic under-fire manager and his team. In the same interview, Solak was keen to address the need for a backup to Azaz.
A pure footballer
"He's a pure footballer," former Hibernian and Celtic midfielder Scott Allan told BBC Scotland.
"He's quite slight, but his awareness, ability to play in tight areas and hurt you is brilliant. Forget the stats - on the eye test, he's been absolutely outstanding.
"He takes touches away from pressure, he has a picture of what he wants to do and he's really fit, so he runs off people a lot.
"The awareness of when to play one-touch, when to play two-touch and then having the creativity in the final third."
The Kiwi is a versatile player who could provide competition for Azaz while simultaneously being an option on either flank. Having bagged seven goals for Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership last season and chipping in with eight assists, Just is a player Southampton cannot afford to miss out on.
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