Southampton look to have made their interest in a ‘phenomenal player’ concrete by launching a ‘surprise’ bid.
Southampton‘s summer business is well and truly underway ahead of a return to the Premier League.
Manager Russell Martin has already welcomed seven permanent senior arrivals, including the likes of Ronnie Edwards, Flynn Downes and Yukinari Sugawara.
Southampton fans got to see a number of their new additions in action for the first time as the Saints kicked off their pre-season friendly fixtures with a 7-1 win over Eastleigh on Friday night.
Despite that high-scoring affair, Martin is keen to now focus his efforts on the attacking positions with five of the seven signings so far being defenders.
That has seen the Southampton boss turn his attention to a young talent who had been expected to secure a Championship loan this summer.
Southampton make ‘offer’ for Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Ran-Sakyi
With defence sorted and the number one priority at the base of the midfield signed in Downes’ £18 million arrival, Southampton need attackers.
Martin has confirmed he is all but resigned to the fact Che Adams won’t sign a new contract after his deal expired at the end of June, whilst two of last season’s wingers were on loan in Ryan Fraser and David Brooks.
Fraser is expected to secure a permanent move from Newcastle United but Brooks did little to show the Saints they should make pursue a permanent deal.
That leaves Southampton short in the wide areas – particularly on the right wing- and they now look keen to address that with a move for Crystal Palace wide man Jesurun Ran-Sakyi.
That is according to journalist Alan Nixon, who has confirmed via his Patreon on Sunday morning that: ‘Southampton are making a surprise £7 million bid for Crystal Palace squad man Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’.
He goes on to say that the Saints have ‘slapped in the offer’ and asked Palace if they can have the 21-year-old on loan if they do not want to sell this summer.
Despite the fact Rak-Sakyi has made just eight Premier League appearances in his career to date, Nixon claims that ‘Palace would demand much more for Rak-Sakyi and do not want to lose him’ but suggests Southampton could have the advantage as ‘a bigger bid and the chance of a Premier League contract may swing the transfer’.
Nixon ends by saying: ‘Shocked Palace originally planned to send Rak-Sakyi to the Championship for a year after a frustrating campaign last time.
Hull City have made the best wages offer for him but now Saints have come in to muddy the waters’.
Rak-Sakyi ‘phenomenal’ but a risk for Southampton
Any increase in fee on the £7 million Southampton have reportedly bid could be seen as excessive for a player so inexperienced at the top level.
However, Rak-Sakyi is clearly a player that Martin has identified as one that would improve his side and perhaps it is the fact he would offer something different to the Southampton manager’s current options that is tempting.
Rak-Sakyi spent the 2022/23 season on loan at League One Charlton Athletic, where he impressed as he scored 15 goals and provided eight assists.
This led to the club’s manager at the time Dean Holden claiming on the I Had Trials Once podcast that Rak-Sakyi is the best player he has ever coached.
Holden said: “It was a lad we had on loan last season, Jes Rak-Sakyi. He was on loan from Crystal Palace.
“He’s getting some game time at the moment – phenomenal player. Right winger but left footed, balance like a skier when they try and knock him off the ball. He’s not one to do ten stepovers for the sake of it. He will make the right decision. He’s only young.
“He used to drive in a clapped out Punto. Earning good money but not interested. His dad and brother own a barbers in Elephant & Castle. Just a proper young player who wants to give everything.”
An exciting player who will get the crowd on their feat, Rak-Sakyi could prove to be a very good signing for Southampton but it would be a risk if he is to be the only right winger signed this summer.
FOR MORE NEWS CLICK HERE
