MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Max Aarons of AFC Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on November 04, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Southampton have made the first move to try and secure the signing of a player Russell Martin wanted last summer in a position shrouded in uncertainty. With Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ permanent signing officially confirmed on Monday alongside the free capture of Charlie Taylor, Southampton are starting to add to their squad ahead of a return to the Premier League.
Adam Lallana, 36, has also joined as manager Russell Martin attempts to bolster his comparatively inexperienced team with top flight experience.
After missing out on a player with 90 Premier League appearances last summer, the Saints have now made an initial approach for the player.
Southampton “has made contact with” Max Aarons to Bournemouth
Due to strong rumors linking Kyle Walker-Peters to West Ham United, Southampton may lose one of its top players.
Walker-Peters has one year left on his present deal, therefore he might be used as a makeweight to get Flynn Downes of West Ham back to the south coast; the midfielder is still West Ham’s top priority this summer.
Southampton will not want to risk Walker-Peters entering the final year of his deal and spending next summer in the same position they have this off-season with Che Adams.
As a result, the team is moving quickly to find a successor for the twice-capped England international. According to Sky Sports, an approach has been made for Max Aarons, a right defender for Bournemouth.
“Southampton has approached Bournemouth for talks over a deal for Max Aarons,” according to Sky Sports, which also notes that “the Saints want to sign Aarons as their new right-back amid uncertainty over Kyle Walker-Peters’ future.”
The report attributes interest in Walker-Peters to both Brighton and Tottenham Hotspur, in addition to West Ham.
Martin was keen on a move for Aarons last summer, with many expecting Walker-Peters to leave St Mary’s following relegation to the Championship.
However, the club instead sold Tino Livramento to Newcastle United and Walker-Peters remained at Southampton; playing a starring role in a promotion-winning campaign.
Aarons instead left Norwich City for Bournemouth in a deal worth up to £12 million and made 20 Premier League appearances last season before falling out of favour towards the end of the campaign.
Martin could capitalise on the 24-year-old dropping down the pecking order and Norwich manager David Wagner was full of praise before his departure last summer.
Speaking on Aarons, Wagner said: “Max is a very, very good player, and he’s a very, very good character as well.
“Everybody knows how highly we rate him as a player and as a person as well. He’s been absolutely top class.”
An attack-minded full-back who loves to surge down the right of the pitch, Aarons could prove a very capable replacement if Walker-Peters is to move on this summer.
