5 players that must be on Southampton FC's transfer radar ft Callum O'Hare | OneFootball

Southampton will have full focus on carrying momentum into the play-offs as they fell short of an automatic promotion berth in Russell Martin's first full season in charge.

The Saints will be hopeful of securing an immediate return to the Premier League after impressing during the regular Championship season, with success in returning to the top flight aiding their ambitions of bringing quality through the St Mary's doors in the summer.

Football League World takes a look at the potential arrivals on the South Coast as the Saints prepare for a busy summer transfer window.

Ben Johnson

Southampton's long-standing interest in West Ham defender Ben Johnson is something the club could act on during the summer transfer window.

Having racked up 10 caps for England’s Under-21s, the right-back would be a solid option for the Saints, especially with Kyle Walker-Peters being subject to a potential return to Tottenham Hotspur, while Chelsea have also been credited with a move for the 27-year-old.

Still in the infancy of his career and having vast experience in the Premier League, it would be a like-for-like swap should Walker-Peters leave the club at the end of the season, with the ability to defend and attack down the right-hand side, along with being comfortable in possession.

Johnson's current contract with the Hammers is due to expire at the end of the season, meaning should Southampton pursue a deal for the defender, it may result in a shrewd piece of business by Martin, aided by not having to pay a transfer fee for his services.

Manuel Benson is another player that was linked with a move to the South Coast in January, with it reported by Football Insider that a loan deal fell at the final hurdle.

The 27-year-old was a key figure in the Clarets’ promotion campaign last term and Benson could prove to be an exciting addition despite failing to make the same impact in the Premier League as he had in the second tier the season prior.

Upon his maiden season of managing in the top division, Vincent Kompany welcomed 14 new faces to Turf Moor throughout the season, and it has somewhat proved to be a disadvantage for the midfielder, having failed to nail down a regular first team spot this season as they continue to fight for survival.

The Saints will see a number of integral loan additions return to the parent clubs at the end of the season, including the likes of David Brooks and Joe Rothwell, and Benson could be considered as a much cheaper alternative for Martin to look at in the summer.

Matias Soule

Exciting Argentine, Matias Soule, has become an emerging star in Serie A this season, impressing during the first loan spell of his career at Frosinone Calcio.

The 21-year-old struggled to wriggle his way among the abundance of attacking talent at Juventus' disposal, but his stock has risen greatly over the course of the campaign, and he looks primed to make the next step in his exciting career.

Valued around the £34 million mark, the Italian club’s expensive estimation could deter the likes of Southampton from making a genuine attempt, with his performances also interesting the likes of Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and Aston Villa.

But the one thing that could play into the Saints' hands is a potential permanent move for midfielder, Carlos Alcaraz. Juventus are reportedly considering a deal for the on-loan Southampton forward, and a deal could be agreed between the two sides as a result.

Flynn Downes

Having previously played under Martin during his time at Swansea City, Flynn Downes has continued to go from strength to strength on his season-long loan from West Ham United.

He has played an integral part in the Saints' midfield this season and a permanent move to the South Coast remains a real possibility should Premier League promotion be achieved.

It has already been reported that the Saints will prioritise a permanent deal for the 25-year-old in the summer transfer window but it could require a perhaps sizeable transfer fee, with Downes' contract with the Hammers until the end of the 2027/28 campaign.

The future of the midfielder at the London Stadium remains to be seen, with it seeming ever more likely that David Moyes, the man who brought him to the club, will leave following the expiration of his contract in the summer.While the new man to take over at the club could be willing to give him a first-team chance, Southampton could see this as the perfect opportunity to give him a platform to continue his growth.

Callum O'Hare is a player that has caught the eye of several potential suitors following his impressive displays for Coventry City this season, with Southampton's proposed interest in the January window never materialising.

The exciting attacking midfielder is said to have rejected a new deal with the Sky Blues, with the possibility of attracting the 25-year-old on a free transfer a more tantalising prospect.

The former Aston Villa man has been with the Sky Blues since the 2019/20 season, in which he helped them to win the League One title, and has gone from strength to strength under Mark Robins.