According to the media Saints have made a £10 million bid for a central defender that Russell Martin is very familiar with, but is this player the missing piece of the jigsaw I have been harping on about since 2017.

The rumour mill is turning and amongst others therealefl.co,uk are reporting that Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam is claiming that Southampton are in for Swansea City central defender Nathan Wood.

McAdam is reporting that Saints have bid an initial £7 million plus £3 million in add ons for the central defender he signed just over a year ago from Middlesbrough.

But is this the missing link that has been needed in the centre of our defence since Virgil Van Dijk & Jose Fonte both decided that they were too good for Southampton FC back in 2017.

Well the first stat would be no, Wood only turned 21 on the 31st May this year, he only played 5 League games for Middlesbrough plus 12 in a short loan spell at Crewe Alexandre and just 1 at Hibernian also on loan.

But Russell Martin had been following his career and having tried to sign him for MK Dons , finally got his man for Swansea City last summer.

Since then he has been pretty much a first choice for the Swans, last season he played 40 out of the 46 games and scored a goal, this season he has made 3 appearances and also scored.

He also won his first England U21 cap last season.

So from a stats perspective he isn't staring me in the face and making a great case to be the missing link, we need experience at the back and he hasn't got that.

What he has got though is pace and lets be honest neither Jack Stephens or Jan Bednarek are noted for their sprinting ability, Wood has clocked up 13 seconds in the 100 metres sprint and that was at age 13.

Russell Martin seems to rate him so that means that he is comfortable with the way that Martin sets out his sides and that bodes well.

Wood has 12 months left on his contract plus Swansea have another years option and £7 million would be a good mark up on the £250k they paid a year ago.

transfermarkt have his current value down as £5 million, so Saints should be able to get him for the £7 million suggested as being on the table by Sky Sports, although other reports close to Swansea in Wales are saying there has been no firm bid as yet.

Given that Russell Martin clearly rates him, he could well be a good buy, but I think we still need to add true leadership next to him in the back four if we are to cut down that goals against tally, I dont think Stephens, Bednarek or Lyanco can fill that gap.

Photo: Action Images

davenbennett added 14:07 - Aug 22 I agree. Looks good prospect. Can also play CMF, so good cover, esp as 6ft 2. Agree still want an experienced CB. Ideally keep B-K, move on Lyanco. I can dream!
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IanRC added 14:37 - Aug 22 Hope he is better than the useless Manning.
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Monksway added 14:41 - Aug 22 I wonder what prompted this offer from Saints. Maybe ABK is on his way back to Germany or Lyanco has a loan confirmed. Saints Podcast noted that Stephens and Bednarek had picked up a number of bookings so a centre back is definitely needed sooner rather than later. I hope we get this over the line. Despite some fans reservations I think RM sees Stephens as the experienced leader in central defence, at least in the championship.

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underweststand added 15:10 - Aug 22 This is just one of the 11 other stories I've seen since the weekend.
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halftimeorange added 20:52 - Aug 22 I agree with IanRC about Manning. From what I've seen he's off the pace and a poor second when judged against the unlucky Perraud. Martin seems to want to surround himself with his old boys but, although that's understandable, they've got to fulfil our needs and a relatively inexperienced centre back isn't what we want. Jack Stephens has always been good at bringing the ball out of defence but, he's nowhere near being a dominating force at the back.

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