Southampton left it late last season, as they only moved out of the drop zone, with just over two weeks left in the league campaign. Mark Hughes did well to get them to safety and will now look to take them a step further next season, adding some quality to his side in the transfer window.
This has seen the Saints linked with a host of talents, even after adding four fresh faces to the squad already this summer. One such player they are still linked with is Aston Villa youngster Keinan Davis.
The Stevenage born striker joined Aston Villa’s academy in 2015 and just took a year to break into the first team. He made six Championship appearances in the 2016-17 season, failing to register even a single goal. However, Steve Bruce gave him regular opportunities last season, when he did fail to impress.
Davis started 17 league games last season, acting as a backup to Scott Hogan in the first team. He registered two goals and one assist.
Aston Villa are in danger of being hit by FFP fines and bans and are in dire need of raising some funds this summer. A number of their star players are wanted by clubs all around England and Davis is one player Bruce is happy to let go.
Reports earlier in the summer claimed that Southampton are ready to make a bid in the region of £4m, to try and sign Davis, taking advantage of Villa’s crisis this summer. The 20-year old’s partner, Hogan is a wanted by Sheffield United and Bruce must now decide if he wants to keep hold of Hogan or Davis before the start of the transfer window.
Hogan was in impressive form last season while Davis only acted as an apprentice. If the duo could be retained, it would have been best for all parties but if one has to be sold, young Davis could be the one shown the exit door.
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The Villa man will not walk into the first team at St Mary’s but Mark Hughes has already sent Guido Carrillo on loan with Shane long, Charlie Austin and Manolo Gabbiadini already fighting for places in the first team. Davis will not be used too extensively, but he does have the quality to push at least one of those names for a place in the first team. At 20, he does not have too much of experience to make an impact on the squad but can surely be a fine addition to the long-term project Hughes has been handed on the south coast.
