The Southampton striker would be a superb addition to the Swansea City squad.
Swansea City manager Paul Clement
Swans boss Paul Clement faces an incredibly busy couple of months ahead of him, as he looks to add ample quality to his squad, with progression from their perennial relegation battles an absolute must.
One particular concern for the Welsh outfit will be the future of last season’s top scorer Fernando Llorente, with the Spaniard being linked with a switch to Premier League champions Chelsea (Daily Mail).
Whether the 32-year-old stays at the Liberty Stadium or not, Clement must still prioritise the signing of another proven striker, and with this in mind, they should consider a move for Saints hitman Jay Rodriguez this summer.
The 27-year-old barely featured for Southampton last term, making just nine Premier League starts, although he was eased back into action following a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a serious cruciate ligament injury, which was followed by ankle surgery.
Southampton’s Jay Rodriguez in action
The former Burnley man seems to have returned to his peak fitness levels now, however, and at the age of just 27, he has plenty of years left in the game to fulfil his potential.
Rodriguez would be the ideal replacement for Llorente should he leave, or will provide fantastic competition for the former Juventus and Athletic Bilbao man, should he stay.
Standing at 6ft 1in, the Saints striker possesses superb aerial ability, and with his intelligent footballing brain, he can be a handful to defend against.
On the face of it, his goalscoring record during his time spent at St Mary’s has been less than impressive. In 104 league appearances, he has scored just 26 times, although 38 of those outings have been from the bench.
Southampton’s Jay Rodriguez in action
The manner in which he brings others into play is the most impressive aspect of his game though, and his commitment and work ethic would undoubtedly improve Swansea as a unit.
Rodriguez still has two years remaining on his current deal at Southampton, so the Welsh club will undoubtedly need to offer a substantial amount to tempt the Saints into selling.
If Paul Clement does manage to bring the striker to the Liberty Stadium though, it could turn out to be quite the coup.
Southampton’s Jay Rodriguez celebrates
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