The impact of Southampton defeating Leeds United in the Championship play-off final could extend beyond just securing a Premier League spot over the West Yorkshire team.
Southampton supporters had a memorable day at Wembley as their team withstood early pressure from Leeds, eventually finding their rhythm and taking the lead thanks to Adam Armstrong’s 24th goal of the season.
Armstrong has been a standout performer this year, calmly slotting Will Smallbone’s pass into the far corner for the game’s only goal.
Southampton triumphed over Leeds in all three of their meetings this season, with Armstrong scoring in each match, so Leeds will likely be relieved to no longer face the 27-year-old striker.
Nonetheless, the disappointment for Leeds might not end with this defeat. A BBC pundit has suggested that Southampton could now target one of Leeds’ players.
Jon Newsome suggests Southampton could target Leeds player
By defeating Leeds in the play-off final, Southampton achieved their 30th win across all competitions this season, marking only the fourth time in their history.
Former Leeds player Jon Newsome, covering the game with sports editor Jonathan Buchan for BBC Leeds, discussed potential player departures from Leeds.
Newsome speculated, “Willy Gnonto, yeah, I could see him on his way, Dan James, you know, frustrated, not even playing, been on the bench.”
Buchan then suggested, “Someone like Southampton might take a look at him.”
Newsome agreed, adding, “Absolutely. Joe Rodon goes back. Ethan Ampadu, who has been great all season.”
Could Southampton target Dan James this summer?
Dan James certainly made an impact following his introduction in the 66th minute at Wembley, with his lightning pace always troubling defenders.
He also came closest for Leeds, firing a strike off the underside of the crossbar that had Alex McCarthy well beaten in the Saints’ goal.
Despite his pace, James’ final product is often lacking, which is why it never really worked out for him at Manchester United.
Leeds allowed him to spend the last campaign on loan at Fulham as they were relegated from the top flight alongside Southampton, indicating their lack of confidence in his ability to make a difference at the top level.
This season, James has scored 13 goals and provided six assists in the Championship, according to Transfermarkt.
However, while his pace is undeniably a useful asset, James does not seem to have the characteristics that manager Russell Martin would find attractive.
Martin prefers his team to be controlled and patient, carefully picking their moments to break down the opposition. James is erratic and unpredictable, often confusing his teammates as much as the opposing defenders.
With this in mind, it would be surprising to see Newsome and Buchan’s prediction come true, but James might be available at a price that could tempt Southampton if they are looking for a different type of player.
GET MORE NEWS HERE
Leave a Reply