Southampton may be just £2 million away from reuniting Russell Martin with his former Swansea City defender Nathan Wood as the Championship outfit look to bring in a new centre-half.
One word you could not use to describe Southampton’s performances during a miserable 2022/23 campaign was ‘fun’. But, having scored eight goals and conceded six in their three league games under Russell Martin so far, the excitement is returning to the St Mary’s terraces, even if this new-look Southampton side may still be a little open, a little too vulnerable, for the liking of some.
Martin, after arriving from Swansea over the summer, has already introduced a more proactive, possession-based approach, Adam Armstrong and Che Adams among those revitalised under their new head coach.
But, considering that only Rotherham United and bottom-of-the-table Sheffield Wednesday have been breached more times than Southampton so far this term, it should come as no surprise that defensive reinforcements are high on Martin’s to-do list heading into the final week of the window.
Southampton want Nathan Wood from Swansea City
The former Rangers and Norwich defender has already raided his old employers to bring in left-back Ryan Manning. According to the Daily Mail, Martin’s Southampton are now pursuing another Swansea stopper.
Nathan Wood, an England U21 international, is valued at £12 million. Southampton are currently willing to stump up £10 million. And a £2 million gap should not provide much of an obstacle to a reunion between player and coach on the banks of the Solent.
21-year-old Wood rose through the ranks at Middlesbrough before joining Swansea in 2022. Interestingly, Martin has now attempted to sign the 6ft 2ins centre-half at all three of his clubs. Martin missed out on Wood when he was at the helm of MK Dons.
“Nathan Wood was absolutely outstanding,” Martin said following Wood’s Swansea debut against Rotherham United 13 months ago. “Nathan was excellent.
“You have to consider he is a young man who has only been with us for six weeks in a new way of working and playing. And we are really excited about him.”
In addition to Manning, Southampton have also signed Shea Charles, Joe Lumley and Flynn Downes. The Saints could make a couple of more high-profile additions before next week’s deadline, however, following the big-money sales of James Ward-Prowse, Romeo Lavia and Tino Livramento.
