Southampton have turned down a bid of less than £7 million from Premier League outfit Sheffield United for Will Smallbone.
As one door closes, a window of opportunity opens for one of Southampton’s academy graduates.
With Romeo Lavia left out of Russell Martin’s starting XI during Friday’s Championship opener away at Sheffield Wednesday – the Belgian’s future up in the air after three big-money bids from Liverpool – Will Smallbone started in the ‘number six’ role instead.
And after Smallbone managed the second-highest number of passes of any Southampton player (146) while completing 96 per cent of them, suddenly Lavia’s departure does not feel as damaging as it might have done.
Southampton hope to keep Will Smallbone
“Will put the rhythm in the team,” Martin said after goals from Adam Armstrong and Che Adams secured a hard-fought 2-1 win (Daily Echo).
“He was amazingly clean technically and he helped out a lot defensively. He made a lot of interceptions today. He’s a really outstanding footballer.”
With Lavia still expected to become a Liverpool player before the end of the window – the two clubs are only about £4 million apart these days – Smallbone is likely to have a big role to play under Martin in 2023/24.
Hence, Southampton turning down a bid from Sheffield United. Smallbone has less than one year left on his contract, and it yet to agree an extension at St Mary’s. But it will take a bid well in excess of the £7 million mark to convince the Saints to cash in (The Athletic).
It remains to be seen whether Sheffield United are willing to increase their initial offer. The Blades will have cash to play with; Sander Berge set to join Burnley after the departure of Iliman Ndiaye to Marseille.
In addition to Smallbone, Paul Heckingbottom’s side are eyeing Coventry City talisman Gustavo Hamer and the tough-tackling Vinicius Souza, who impressed even as Espanyol were relegated from La Liga last season.
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