Aston Villa and Sunderland shouldn’t give up on the Southampton forward, despite reports of a new contract being offered.
According to The Mirror, Aston Villa and Sunderland target Sam Gallagher will sign a new contract at Southampton.
The 21-year-old attacker impressed on loan at Blackburn Rovers last season and the report claims that Southampton’s coaching staff believe he has a “huge future”.
If he signs an extension then it might well spell the end of Aston Villa and Sunderland’s reported hopes of signing him permanently, but the Championship duo should certainly explore the possibility of bringing him in on loan next term.
He might well have a very promising career ahead of him, but that’s the long term and new Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino needs to be thinking in the short term for now. They’re an ambitious club who sacked Claude Puel after the South-Coast side finished eighth in the Premier League last term.
At 21, Gallagher needs games and it is unlikely that he will find regular football at St Mary’s next season.
The Daily Mail previously reported that the likes of Aston Villa and Sunderland were interested and that still should be the case.
The Black Cats will be losing Jermain Defoe and probably Fabio Borini, while Villa could use another goalscoring option after Ross McCormack’s struggles last season.
Gallagher netted 12 goals for Rovers last season, which isn’t an outstanding return but he has a full season of Championship football under his belt and there is every chance he would be a different animal in that division next season.
Derby’s Richard Keogh in action with Aston Villa’s Ross McCormack
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