Southampton have always been an admirer of young talents. The South Coast club has produced a number of talented players like Gareth Bale, Luke Shaw, Nathaniel Clyne and Adam Lallana, who are among the best in their positions in Europe at the moment.
Their season didn’t have the greatest of starts, as Mauricio Pellegrino’s side have been very quiet this campaign. Mauricio Pellegrino now wants to change things and according to reports, they are watching Aston Villa wonder kid Callum O’Hare.
The 19-year-old has been sensational for Aston Villa’s U-23s, although he is yet to be used by senior manager Steve Bruce, for his side. O’Hare scored a splendid hat-trick against Newcastle United U23s recently and it would be difficult for Bruce to ignore the youngster following his stupendous performance against the Magpies.
Billed as the future superstar at the Villa Park, the 19-year-old is highly regarded in the Midlands and the club take initial steps to keep him there by tying him down to a new, two-year contract last month. A number of Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Everton, have been regularly at the Villa Park to have a strict watch on the player. He is one of the most exciting talents currently in the Championship and is ready for the senior side already.
O’Hare came through the Villa academy and this campaign has been his breakthrough season, as he racked up more minutes than expectations. However, the youngster was surprisingly dropped from the squad against Birmingham City, but now, he has made a strong statement with his excellent showings on the pitch and it remains to be seen whether Bruce includes him in the starting lineup for the next few games.
Primarily a central midfielder, the youngster is also very effective in a no. 10 role. Southampton brought Mario Lemina from Juventus in the summer, but the player needs a sleek and dominating midfielder alongside him to ease the proceedings.
O’Hare has a very tight control of the ball and can unlock defences with his incisive passing. He is yet to start a match for the senior side in the Championship and hasn’t been able to find the back of the net. But a player of his stature deserves more chances and with quite a gruesome season ahead, he is likely to be involved more in near future.
Villa will want to keep him at the club but is he a decent buy for Southampton?
