Southampton Fan View: Quincy Promes could be the man to keep Southampton up

Southampton have left their business until late in the January transfer window. They recruited their first signing, Guido Carrillo from Monaco, only last week and are evidently working relentlessly to land Quincy Promes from Spartak Moscow.

The Netherlands international has long been linked with a move to the Premier League but these rumours have proven to be no fruition. Promes scooped the 2017 Player of the Year award in Russia not so long ago and it seems now is as good a chance as there has been for the player to make the switch.

Negotiations between Saints and Spartak appear to be ongoing but, as is often the case, the Premier League strugglers are aiming to secure the player at a lower price. A bid of £25m has already been rejected.

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Simply put, Saints aren’t in a position to be fussy and they are facing a race against time to get this deal completed before the transfer window slams shut on Wednesday night, shortly after their colossal match with Brighton and Hove Albion.

The January transfer window is always an intriguing one. There are often merry-go-rounds with clubs and players and it is a frantic period for teams, especially those in desperate need of reinforcements. Saints fall into that category and there appears to be a number of different factors at play in their attempt to land Promes.

Spartak Moscow are understandably desperate to retain the services of Promes. After all, he is a Champions League quality player who is capable of turning a game on its head in a matter of moments. However, it seems they are actively searching for attacking reinforcements, prompting the assumption that contingency plans are being made with the Dutchman’s departure in mind. Anderlecht star Sofiane Hanni is being targeted by the Russian side and, also understandably, Spartak will surely aim to have a replacement in line before they even consider sanctioning Promes’ sale.

The right winger has a release clause in his contract but there is no concrete evidence nor figure that has been disclosed. If Saints can meet this sum, Spartak will have no choice but to allow Promes, who is stated to be keen on the move to the south coast, stage talks over a move.

Simply put, this transfer is a necessity for Southampton. We are only two days away from the window slamming shut and the club’s current predicament indicates that they must act extremely fast.

Attacking quality has often been lacking for Saints this season. The team have moved the ball well in small periods of matches but have failed to develop a clinical edge. This is something that Promes would provide, having continuously proved himself to be a threat from the right and left for Spartak.

The Dutchman has netted 10 goals from 16 starts in the Russian Premier League and has also chipped in with six assists. This, coupled with two goals and two assists from Spartak’s Champions League group stage games, only reflects how influential a player he can be.

It’s been claimed that Spartak will demand a sum upwards of £30m for Promes and rightly so. As previously alluded to, he is a capable Champions League player and is someone who can compete at the top of the game.

It would be out of character for Saints to splash such a sum, especially in the mid-season transfer window. Promes is an exception, though, and is genuinely capable of pulling his side out of precarious situations on his own through trickery, raw pace and a devastating eye for goal.

Southampton are not known for splashing copious sums on ready-made players to benefit them in the short-term. However, Promes undoubtedly would and would go some way in helping them towards survival in the Premier League, along with in the years to come.

It would be some price to pay for Saints if they are to lure Promes to the south coast, but how much is too much when your Premier League status is at stake?