Southampton should raid QPR this summer for a Che Adams replacement: View | OneFootball

Highlights

With Che Adams’ future as a Southampton player seemingly hanging in the balance and the summer transfer window fast approaching, Saints will be in the market for more attacking talent when the off-season comes around.

The former Birmingham City man was said to have been offered a new three-year deal at St Mary’s in September but is yet to put pen to paper, fuelling reports that he will be on the move when his contract comes to an end in June.

The 27-year-old has scored eleven times in his 35 appearances for Russell Martin’s side this campaign, including a consolation strike in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to relegation battlers Millwall.

But with an exit looming large, the South Coast club should be turning their eyes towards Loftus Road for their next attacking talent, with Sinclair Armstrong continuing to impress for Queens Park Rangers.

Che Adams attracting interest from elsewhere

After making the move from St Andrews in the summer of 2019, Adams signed a five-year deal with Southampton - who at the time were a Premier League club - with that deal coming to an end in a matter of months.

The forward only managed four goals in his first season at St Mary’s, before finding the back of the net nine times in the 2020/21 league campaign.

The Scotland international is yet to reach double figures in a single league season for his current club at time of writing - although he sits on nine this year - but that hasn’t stopped clubs showing interest in acquiring his services.

According to TeamTalk, Vincent Kompany’s Burnley were rumoured to be interested in bringing the striker to Turf Moor in January and with his deal about to expire he will be able to leave for free once the transfer window opens, you have to think he will have other suitors in the summer.

After back-to-back defeats to Hull City and Millwall, Southampton find themselves playing catch-up in the race for automatic promotion in the Championship, with Leeds United and Ipswich Town stealing a march to put themselves both five points ahead in the battle for second spot.

Part of their recent problem has been converting chances when they are presented; with an 80.5% share of possession only rendering seven shots on target in defeat to the Lions last time out, as per Soccerbase.

Adams was hooked after an hour by boss Martin at the weekend, and looks likely to continue to find game time hard to come by; having only started 15 out of his side’s 34 league matches this season.

Sinclair Armstrong attracting interest amid contract dispute

Armstrong is another player facing a contract battle at his current club, with the Queens Park Rangers man not yet signing the five-year deal offered to him by the Hoops’ hierarchy last year.

His current side do have an option to trigger a one-year extension to his current contract, which is due to expire in the summer, and will no doubt do so if their current offer is rejected.

That way, if they do sell their tricky, powerful frontman this summer - and interest from the likes of Man City and Crystal Palace earlier this term suggests there will be suitors - they will at least generate a fee that his talents deserve, with several key performances proving his ability to perform on the highest stage.

The figures on FBRef are there to back it up for the 20-year-old, whose 2.67 progressive carries per 90 make him one of the best players with the ball at his feet in the whole division, and earning his side plenty of valuable territory when he picks the ball up.

The pace-merchant has run a number of Championship defences ragged over the course of the current campaign, with his direct approach and sizzling feet leaving defenders seeing a fresh pair of heels as he scoots round the outside.

The recent 2-0 victory over Millwall highlighted just what a threat Armstrong possesses at the business end of the field, with the Lions’ defenders fearful of his marauding runs from wide areas, eventually culminating in a match-deciding strike five minutes from time.

In total, Armstrong has three goals to his name this year, as well as a further three assists, albeit in a side struggling at the bottom end of the table. Surround him with more dynamic, fluid attacking teammates and he will flourish.

Regardless of which division Saints find themselves in next season, Armstrong could be easily fit into Martin’s side; a player with such explosive pace can help to unlock any defence, and he has the physicality to be a menace when the ball comes his way.

He's not yet the finisher that Adams is but as a long-term replacement, the Irishman is certainly someone that Southampton should have their eye on. The step up to a team like Southampton could aid his development while with Rangers’ Championship status under question, he could be available for a bargain as well.