Southampton’s bid for an instant return to the Premier League is off to a stuttering start, as the club grapples with a middling opening to the new Championship campaign. After last season’s relegation—painful but hardly unexpected—Saints fans were hoping for a strong statement of intent. Instead, the team has mustered a win, a draw, and a loss from their first three matches. With automatic promotion the only acceptable outcome at St Mary’s, the mood is clear: the squad still needs strengthening before the transfer window slams shut on Monday.
Saints have already splashed close to £70 million on new arrivals this summer. But with Tyler Dibling’s recent sale to Everton, the club is short a winger and eager to fill the gap.
Jonathan Ikoné, currently out of favour at Fiorentina, has emerged as Southampton’s top target. Sources suggest a deal worth around £4 million could be on the cards. The Frenchman, who boasts European pedigree from spells in Ligue 1 and Serie A, could prove a shrewd bit of business if he adapts quickly to the rigours of the Championship.
Departures remain a concern for manager Will Still. Cameron Archer is attracting serious interest from PSV Eindhoven, who can dangle the carrot of Champions League football. Given Archer’s underwhelming stint at St Mary’s, the prospect of a move abroad could be as appealing for the player as it is worrying for Saints fans. The club is keen to avoid further outgoings, having already banked over £100 million from sales this window—including Mateus Fernandes, who joined West Ham earlier this month.
With the clock ticking down on the summer transfer window, Southampton’s hierarchy faces a delicate balancing act. The push for promotion can’t afford to be undermined by a thin squad or further high-profile exits. For now, all eyes are on the next move from the boardroom—and whether it will be enough to get the Saints marching back to the top flight.
