Exclusive: "A fraction light" - Sky Sports pundit urges Southampton to avoid £8m sale | OneFootball

Don Goodman spoke exclusively with FLW to discuss the Southampton future of Will Smallbone.

Southampton midfielder Will Smallbone could still exit the club this summer.

The Saints have seen the likes of Jan Bednarek, Aaron Ramsdale, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Kyle Walker-Peters all move on to pastures new this summer, while transfers for Tyler Dibling and Mateus Fernandes are still extremely plausible.

Football League World exclusively revealed that Southampton are looking to offload Smallbone before the end of the transfer window, and value the midfielder at £8 million.

The 25-year-old missed the Saints’ opening day victory over Wrexham, with manager Will Still confirming that a calf injury will keep Smallbone sidelined for the time being.

No suitors have presented themselves for the midfielder’s signature yet, but the Republic of Ireland international’s Championship credentials will be sure to attract interest.

Don Goodman questions Southampton’s Will Smallbone stance

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit and former striker, Don Goodman, believes that Smallbone would be a huge loss for Southampton.

“Will Smallbone played every single game in Southampton's Championship promotion season a couple of seasons ago (23/24),” stated Goodman.

“He contributed seven goals and four assists as well from a holding midfield role, which was absolutely brilliant. I remember him scoring some really vital, important goals as well.

“I suppose every player has a price tag and if somebody's willing to meet the £8 million, then clearly Will Still and Southampton would sanction that. But I think he's a player that they really could use this season.

“You need competition for places and if they let him go, they would probably be a fraction light in that area. But it's down to the new head coach. Will Still obviously prefers other players to Smallbone at the moment.

“If you’re Smallbone, you would want no doubts about regular first-team football.”

Southampton may struggle to make Will Smallbone windfall

Smallbone is a quality operator at the Championship level and was imperative to Southampton’s success throughout their 2023/24 play-off winning campaign.

Playing every single game for the Saints on their way to the Premier League showed consistency from the midfielder that is worth its weight in gold, but £8 million might just be a stretch too far.

With his contract set to expire next summer, it seems unlikely that any clubs in the second-tier will be able to match Southampton’s Smallbone valuation.

Therefore, Still and Co. may have to consider dropping how much money they expect to make on the midfielder, otherwise they risk losing him for free in the future.

Alternatively, the Southampton boss could choose to utilise Smallbone’s extensive Championship skillset to help fire the Saints towards promotion.