Southampton chiselled a decent season in the 2016-17 campaign of the Premier League under the tutelage of Claude Puel, as they clinched the 8th spot in the league chart with 46 points. The Saints, however, would be now looking keen to bag a place for themselves in the European competitions and thus, the summer transfer window would hold a paramount importance to enable them to meet their needs.
For many years now, the St. Mary’s based club have been beefing up the quality of their squad by making shrewd signings and they aren’t likely to differ this time around as well. Despite the likelihood of Puel’s departure from the managerial post, Southampton are believed to have put Leeds United’s sensational goal scorer Chris Wood on their radar for a prospective move.
Despite the failure of the Whites to bag a top six finish owing to their horrible run of form in the business end of the Championship campaign last season, Wood emerged as one of the hottest properties from the English second division. The Kiwi international banged 30 goals and also garnered 4 assists in 44 Championship appearances and catered to the major part of the offensive needs of the West Yorkshire based club.
Interest from the Premier League clubs was imminent and Southampton’s knack to sign him does make perfect sense. They scored merely 48 goals in the Premier League last term and they unarguably have to do a lot better in the coming seasons. In an equation like this one, Wood can certainly fit the bill, for he does have the calibre to lead their attacking arsenal. The 25-year-old is a prolific finisher, is well built to face the animosity of the English top flight and doesn’t refrain from testing the opposition’s goalkeeper time and again.
Wood has the requisite pace, is clever with his movements on and off the ball and is a perfect poacher inside the box. Besides, he is sound in the air, holds the ball well and has the technical edge in the game. His stocks, after carving a stellar season with the Peacocks, have risen massively and having proved himself in the second tier, he might personally be looking forward to embarking on new adventures.
Southampton would be an appealing prospect for the striker and the move will enable him in proving his intrinsic value in Premier League and will also be beneficial to the club who would lay their hands on one of the finest attackers available in English football.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored
