Russell Martin has said he will ‘cry himself to sleep” without a certain signing. Southampton have already made five additions to their squad this summer
Russell Martin has claimed he will ‘cry himself to sleep’ if he is unable to sign a certain West Ham player this summer. The Southampton manager revealed he had wanted the deal completed ‘four weeks ago’ and that the process was taking its toll.
Saints are back in the Premier League at the first time of asking after beating Leeds United 1-0 in the play-off final and open their campaign against Newcastle on August 17.
They have already made five additions to their squad including Taylor Harwood-Bellis – making his loan from Manchester City permanent for £20million – and Adam Lallana on a free transfer.
And Martin is desperate to complete the signing of West Ham’s Flynn Downes, who was on loan at St Mary’s last year and a key player in their promotion.
‘Hopefully, before the end of the summer, he will be in a Southampton shirt,’ said Martin. If he’s not, I will cry myself to sleep. It will take more time. We just have to be patient. I wanted him here last week, four weeks ago even.
‘I hope, that at some point, we will show enough love and give West Ham enough money [for him].’
Downes made 37 appearances for Southampton last season. He appeared 35 times for the Hammers the season before.
Southampton last month offered Kyle Walker-Peters plus a cash fee for the 25-year-old, as per The Athletic.
As well as Harwood-Bellis and Lallana, once of their youth academy, Saints have added Nathan Wood, Ronnie Edwards, and Charlie Taylor to their ranks.
Discussing their transfer policy, Martin, who recently signed a new three-year deal, said: ‘We need to add in a few areas. We are looking to strengthen the squad as much as we can within the financial limits that won’t put the club under any pressure.
‘I think we have recruited really well so far. On the whole, they have been British players who want to be at Southampton.
‘That’s really important. We won’t just sign players who want to play in the Premier League and earn lots of money.
‘So far, we have signed players who are desperate to be here and don’t just see this as a place where they can come to earn a move to another club.
‘There is a balance to be had. We have signed young players who have played a lot of football in England.
‘We have Adam Lallana who in his first week has already made a huge difference on the training pitch.
‘The way he trains and the way he conducts himself, he is going to be a huge asset to the group. Charlie Taylor is the same.
‘We have balanced Ronnie and Woody, two outstanding young centre-backs, with Charlie and Adam.
‘We will sign players with experience. I think some people can undervalue experience but we will sign some players who are exciting moving forward as well.’
