Saints are said to have agreed terms for a central defender from Arsenal, but It is not the commanding leader that the club have been lacking in the centre of their defence since the departure of both Jose Fonte & Virgil Van Dijk in 2017.

Hampshire Live are reporting the news that Saints have agreed a deal to sign Zach Awe from Arsenal.

This is not the most exciting news, the 19 year old is another promising youngster who leaves a big club due to the lack of first team opportunity, Awe was out of contract at the Emirates and it is unclear whether he was offered or declined a new deal with the Gunners, either way compensation will have to be agreed between the two clubs due to his age.

Either way it seems that he has been in demand with both Leicester City and Huddersfield keen to land his signature, the latter having nurtured Southampton born Levi Colwill whilst on loan from Chelsea at a similar age.

Saints will hope that Awe will make as much an impact as Colwill did at a similar age two years ago.

But he is not the experienced leader that Saints fans have been crying out for now for six years, as it stands Awe joins a roster of 7 central defenders at the club with Jack Stephens, Jan Bednarek, Dynel Simeu Armel Bella-Kotchap, Duje Caleta-Car, Lyanco and Mohammed Salisu all playing in that position, indeed you could say 8 if you add Shea Charles who played in that position against Bournemouth on Tuesday night, although primarily he is a holding midfielder.

SALISU, SOON TO DEPART

At least 4 of the above named are likely to leave before the end of the transfer window and it is likely that Simeu will head out on loan again.

All the media reports suggest that Awe is arriving not to join the academy but to move straight into the Saints first team, suggesting that his departure from Arsenal was more about letting his contract run down so as to leave and get first team chances elsewhere.

That viewpoint is strengthened when you consider that although he did not make his first team debut in any competition last season, he did make the bench on one occasion in the Premier League although did not get on the pitch and had also been part of the matchday squad on other occasions, it seems the Gunners were keen to try and convince him a first team place was not far off.

The 6ft 4in defender was a regular for Arsenal under-21s last season making 23 appearances in the Premier League 2 and also another 4 against League opposition in the EFL trophy.

So it looks like Southampton will make an "Awe" some signing in the next 24 hours or so, let us hope he is of the standard of Tino Livramento and Romeo Lavia and is the first part of the missing links in the centre of defence at St Mary's

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 14:28 - Jul 28 I think many of us will have to get used to signings like him when playing down in the Championship, where many teams have similar personnel combined with those who never succeeded in making it above L1 level. However, Saints have the advantage of getting good talents from top Academy sides and our previous signings of Livramento, Lavia and Amo-Ameyaw is clearly the proof of that. Admittedly, " Awe" may sound "young", but he will hopefully improve in time. Don't let's expect to see us getting "another van Dijk... but even he was 19 at one time. We will have a lot of new names to contend with in the coming months, and it's I think it's wrong to begin to doubt them before they've even laced-up boots for their first game.

2

Bowlercow added 14:39 - Jul 28 This would be a direct replacement for Salisu who looks set to sign for Fulham If he is as good as Tino, Romeo etc turned out to be then at 6ft4in he will at least give some Arial advantage to a short arsed defense
4

Blogs 31 bloggers

Southampton Polls