Even though Southampton sold some of their top players during the summer transfer window, they were still managed to hang onto a couple of their best players. One of them was Che Adams, who was linked to several Premier League teams from the start of the transfer window.
However, after being linked to teams like Bournemouth, Wolves, Burnley, Nottingham Forest, and Everton, the 27-year-old remained at St. Mary’s Stadium as the transfer deadline passed on September 1.
Adams has a new three-year deal on the table that he may either accept or reject as he sees fit, thus he has yet to decide whether or not to commit his future to the team.
Adams’ contract will now end in June 2024, so the club hierarchy might try to make some money off the Scotland international.
If Adams were to be sold during the January transfer window at Southampton, let’s look at one winner and one loser.
WINNER: Ross Stewart
Russell Martin at Southampton has a wide range of striker alternatives at his disposal when everyone is healthy and on the same page.
And even if Adams is sold, he will still have Adam Armstrong, who is currently operating at peak efficiency, along with Sekou Mara and the previously unseen Ross Stewart.
The Saints moved for Stewart on deadline day, with an initial £8 million paid to Sunderland, maybe with an exit for Adams in mind, whether it was late in the summer transfer season or in January.
Stewart ruptured his achilles while playing for the Black Cats in an FA Cup match against Fulham back in January, therefore Southampton was purchasing an injured player.
Prior to it, though, Stewart had scored 10 goals in the Championship in just 13 games before his season-ending problem, and 26 goals in League One during the 2021–22 season.
Of course, no one can predict how Stewart will recover from such a setback, but Southampton supporters should get to see him for the first time before the end of October, and Adams’ sale will give the Scotland international more assured playing time.
LOSER: Russell Martin
Without a doubt, selling Adams in January if he doesn’t agree to a new deal may make financial sense, but losing him in the middle of the season would still be a blow for Martin.
But is Martin already preparing for life beyond Adams after choosing not to start Adams in Southampton’s most recent two games?
Until Stewart is healthy and ready to play, the Saints head coach might set up without using Adams right away by using Carlos Alcaraz, who started as a sort of false nine against Leeds United and Stoke.
Although it won’t be up to him to decide whether to sell or keep Adams in January because the club has a whole transfer staff for that, he does regularly provide goals at Championship level when utilised, so even though Southampton and Martin will suffer from his departure.
