Southampton moves late, forcing Sunderland to make a significant Patrick Roberts trade decision.
On Wearside, today is expected to be a busy and important deadline day.
On the final day before the deadline, Southampton intensifies its pursuit of Patrick Roberts, posing a significant obstacle for Sunderland.
Ross Stewart has already signed a contract with Russell Martin’s team, and the striker is scheduled to complete the transfer on Friday. With the agreement, Sunderland will get an initial price of about £8 million and possibly another £4 million in add-ons.
However, Southampton is not done yet, and they intend to take advantage of the fact that, like Stewart, Roberts is now in the last year of his contract. The club has been delighted with Tony Mowbray’s success since his transfer from Manchester City and is a major supporter, although they have not yet extended new terms.
Southampton are in the market for proven quality on the right flank after selling Nathan Tella to Bayer Leverkusen for a reported £20 million fee.
“There is time pressure now to get things done and I’m sure that we will,” Martin said on Wednesday.
“Replacing Nathan [Tella] is definitely high on the priority list. We have a few options there currently and we will have to wait and see which one lands.
“I couldn’t tell you what is going to happen between now and then, I guess that’s why people find it exciting.”
Speaking last week, Mowbray said that he believed Roberts was happy on Wearside amid claims that his former club Celtic were pursuing a deal.
“Patrick is in the right place, he’s rebuilding a career back to the level where I feel as if we can get him to and I hope he enjoys the freedom he’s being given to attack and not to worry about losing the ball every now and then,” he said.
“When he eliminates people, two or three or four, and we score it’s amazing to see. I don’t think there’s an issue with Patrick.”
The question is whether Southampton’s interest will change that picture on deadline day.
Sunderland would undoubtedly need a high-calibre replacement to sanction any deal, given that they are already missing Amad from last season and sold Isaac Lihadji earlier this summer.
