Flynn Downes offers insight into ‘absolute carnage’ before completing £18m Southampton move

Russell Martin has finally got his man as Flynn Downes was confirmed as a Southampton player on Tuesday.

After an outstanding campaign on loan at Southampton last season, the signing of Flynn Downes has been the top priority since the beginning of the summer.

Following a lengthy pursuit, Southampton managed to strike an £18 million deal with West Ham United for the midfielder who was surprisingly announced at the Saints’ kit launch event on Tuesday night.

Downes joins Taylor Harwood-Bellis in turning his loan deal permanent and becomes Martin’s seventh signing of the summer.

A number of Southampton’s players were in attendance as Puma put on an event for a select few fans at St Mary’s in which they unveiled both the home and away kits ready for the return to the Premier League.

As if this wasn’t enough, Southampton unveiled Downes in the brand new home shirt much to the delight of the fans.

After the event, Downes was interviewed by BBC South News Sport Editor Lewis Coombes where he lifted the lid on weeks of uncertainty leading up to the move in a video posted on ‘X’.

Downes revealed: “That’s probably been the hardest thing the last few weeks, not knowing where I’m going to be, when I’m going to be there.”

Despite the riches of the Premier League, it is not always glamorous, as Downes pointed out: “It has been tough, obviously I’ve been sleeping on the floor at mum and dad’s, my missus has been back at home with her mum and dad.

Southampton have their first friendly of pre-season on Friday night as the St Mary’s side make the short trip to National League side Eastleigh.

READ MORE: Russell Martin could reveal one key thing in Southampton first friendly v Eastleigh
Martin revealed last week that he wanted Downes in the squad weeks ago, but he will be happy that the holding midfielder has been signed ahead of the first test of the summer.

Whether Downes will feature on Friday remains to be seen, but he will be sure to be part of the squad that travel to Spain for a training camp following that game.

With Downes’ future secured, Martin can now turn his attention to strengthening other areas of his squad to build around the top target this summer.

Southampton may have have accidentally given a huge indication on Che Adams’ future with recent pre-season footage.

Russell Martin welcomed his Southampton players back for pre-season at the start of July, with no time to waste in their preparations for a return to the Premier League.

The club kick-off their pre-season friendlies with the short trip to National League side Eastleigh on Friday night, with Martin also having been present to watch an under-21 XI face AFC Totton last weekend.

Saints fans could get their first look at a number of new – as well as some old – faces, with the seven summer arrivals including Ronnie Edwards and Yukinari Sugawara as well as last season’s loan duo Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes.

READ MORE: The two positions Russell Martin wants Southampton to strengthen after permanent Flynn Downes deal
Another new arrival that Southampton fans are very familiar with is Adam Lallana.

The 36-year-old has returned to his first club this summer ten years after leaving for Liverpool and the number he has been wearing in training has given a huge hint on the future of Che Adams.

However, Southampton may have inadvertently confirmed Adams’ exit as Lallana has been spotted wearing the striker’s number ten in pre-season training.

Whilst this could merely be coincidence, it would seem strange for the club to hand Lallana Adams’ number to train in if he was set to sign a new contract.

Adams’ contract saga frustrating for Southampton fans
Che Adams of Southampton warms up on his return from injury ahead of the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final match between Leeds United and Southam…
Photo by Copa/Getty Images
Adams has been a decent servant for Southampton and scored 15 Championship goals last season to help fire the club to a return to the Premier League.

However, he has never been prolific and there will be fans who do not see why the club have pushed so hard for him to stay.

Adams has constantly been linked with a move away over the past two years and has done very little to ever dampen that speculation.

Whilst he is a decent striker, even if he stayed Southampton would need to sign a significant upgrade if they are stay up next season.

With that in mind, this could be the welcome end to a transfer saga that has threatened to rumble on all summer and Martin can focus his attention in bringing in one or two more centre-forwards.