LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 06: Charlie Taylor of Burnley looks on during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Burnley FC at Goodison Park on April 06, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images) (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Southampton is “closing in” on the signing of a new player who will bolster a young team with essential Premier League experience.
Southampton has already added two veteran players to its roster this summer as they prepare to fight for survival in the top division.
When promotion was secured in accordance with the conditions of the agreement with Manchester City, Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ loan deal became immediately permanent for £20 million, while Adam Lallana returned to his original club for free.
Ryan Fraser and Saman Ghoddos, both thirty, are set to join manager Russell Martin, whose ambition to bring Premier League experience to his team at a low cost is evident in Lallana’s singing.
It now looks as though this strategy is set to continue, with the club close to securing another free agent who has played 161 Premier League games.
Charlie Taylor of Burnley is ready to join Southampton for nothing.
Charlie Taylor, a 30-year-old player for Burnley, was just relegated from the premier league.
Journalist Rudy Galetti of “X” claims that Southampton is getting closer to confirming Charlie Taylor’s free agency deal.
The left-back rejected the renewal proposed by Burnley, ready to start a new experience at Southampton’.After Harwood-Bellis and Lallana, this would be Southampton’s third summer signing by a senior, after Rento Takaoka, a 17-year-old Japanese attacker, who the Saints also secured a pre-contract deal for but is not expected to join until March of next year when he turns 18.Taylor is expected to compete with Ryan Manning at left defense.
Last summer Martin acted swiftly to bring left-back Ryan Manning to Southampton on a free following the expiration of his Swansea City contract.
Manning played under Martin at Swansea and was key to the way his side played but struggled to recreate the kind of form that saw him score five goals and proved ten assists in the 2022/23 season at the Saints.
Juan Larios was sidelined for the whole of the previous campaign due to injury, so Manning essentially had no competition at left-back but occasionally lost out to James Bree and Jack Stephens, who were both playing out of position.
Taylor, who played for Burnley under Vincent Kompany, is a reliable Premier League full-back who is also accustomed to playing a possession-focused style. Southampton will be adding him to their roster.
When Taylor made his first appearance of the season in September of last year, Kompany, the Belgian manager, lauded the former Leeds United defender, stating, “His chance came and he took it with both hands and we are happy with that.” Taylor had fallen out of favor throughout parts of the previous campaign.
They are aware that hard labor is required. Charlie Taylor performed admirably (against Forest), but the previous time, he wasn’t even on the team.
Although Southampton supporters won’t be overly thrilled with this acquisition, it is another free agent who adds top-tier experience to the team in a position that is in need of depth.
