Southampton now want to sign another former player after Adam Lallana, it’s not Danny Ings

It has been a busy start to the summer for Southampton, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis signing permanently alongside promotion and 36-year-old Adam Lallana arriving for free as the second signing of the summer.

The club are also said to be close to announcing 30-year-old Brentford attacking midfielder Saman Ghoddos as another arrival following his release from Brentford and Ryan Fraser looks set for a return after a successful loan spell.

With Lallana returning a decade after leaving the club for Liverpool, another former player has been linked with a move back to St Mary’s in Danny Ings.

However, the theme of interest in former players has now continued with yet another ex-Saint linked with a move this summer.

Whilst Lallana’s return has been generally well-received, with fans recognising the benefit of his experience and qualities, Ings’ touted return is a more divisive topic.

The striker left under a cloud when he joined Aston Villa in 2021 and has failed to replicate his Southampton form elsewhere since his departure.

The 30-year-old is said to want a return to England and Sheffield United were interested in a move, but Southampton and Fulham can both offer something the Blades cannot and that is Premier League football.

Besiktas are keen to offload the midfielder who is on high wages in Turkey, which could pave the way for a return to the club at which it all started in Southampton.

Oxlade-Chamberlain left Southampton in 2011, signing for Arsenal for a fee rising to £15 million having helped the Saints secure promotion from League One.

Aged just 17 when he left, Oxlade-Chamberlain has enjoyed a successful career since but has always struggled with injuries which would be concerning for any interested club.

The former England international did play 30 games for Besiktas last season and scored four goals but has spent a lot of time on the treatment table over the years.

His manager at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, was a big fan of him as a player and said upon the player’s exit in 2023: “Ox is a super guy, an absolutely super guy.

“Now with Ox it’s a bigger shame, how it sometimes is with players – he had here super times and now in the end I’m pretty sure he is not 100% happy and I can understand that, definitely.

“But the one moment that comes in my mind, it describes a little bit the time here but as well how good he is, is the situation in the Roma semi-final, the home game when he got injured. In that moment I had no idea how to replace him, honestly – Ox was that good.

“It was everything: he came here, had played from time to time at wing-back at Arsenal, winger for sure, and he became a proper No.8 here in the way we wanted to play – super-energetic, technically outstanding.”

Klopp’s comments show that Oxlade-Chamberlain is clearly a very gifted footballer and if Southampton are able to keep him fit then he could be a real asset in their bid to stay in the Premier League next season.

The staggering amount Southampton contract rebel Che Adams will earn if he makes Saudi move
The staggering amount Southampton contract rebel Che Adams will earn if he makes Saudi move
Fraser Spinney

Southampton are preparing for a return to the Premier League after a one-year absence following promotion via the Championship play-offs.

Manager Russell Martin will have a good idea of what positions he wants to strengthen this summer, but the ever-changing landscape of the transfer market is always difficult to navigate.