Southampton have received a huge boost in their pursuit of Josh Maja, as the striker has rejected a contract offer from Sunderland, as reported by Talksport.
The Saints are believed to be interested in the services of the Sunderland forward in this ongoing January transfer window. However, they could face stiff competition, which is understandable given how well Maja has performed this season.
Josh Maja: player profile
Maja has established himself as one of the most prominent names in League One, thanks to an incredible campaign with Sunderland that has seen him score 14 goals in 22 matches.
In fact, only John Marquis of Doncaster Rovers has managed to score goals than Maja this season. And even then, Maja has been involved in more goals, having also registered two assists.
Indeed, the 20-year-old is a prolific striker, whose numbers do the talking for him. But, aside from his excellent scoring record, Maja is known for his physicality and hold-up play, which allows him to keep hold of the ball even under extreme pressure from opposing defenders.
In addition, Maja is blessed with excellent positional awareness as he often tends to shift into wider positions in order to either occupy the marked defender or to create more space for the playmakers.
Unlike many physically astute strikers, Maja has a decent first-touch and a competent technical acumen as he can occasionally operate as the ball-carrier and even dribble past opposing defenders – making him a complete package in the attacking department.
Why do Southampton need Maja?
It goes without saying that Southampton will be focusing on their attacking department following the appointment of Ralph Hasenhuttl. Aside from Danny Ings, they do lack the services of a reliable forward, especially with the likes of Manolo Gabbiadini, Shane Long and Charlie Austin struggling to find the back of the net on a regular basis.
In addition, Gabbiadini is linked with a return to Serie A, which only accentuates the need for another attacker. And Maja, in that regard, could be an excellent option as he can not only provide Hasenhuttl with an additional option in the attacking department but can also inject some youthful exuberance into the squad.
Moreover, the fact that the 20-year-old is well balanced in his approach as a forward, boasting equally impressive traits in both technical as well as the physical aspects of the game – makes him a tailor-made fit for Hasenhuttl’s tactical philosophy, which requires the presence of a pacy yet hard-working striker and Maja should be able to provide that flair.
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored