Southampton are looking to sign Ryan Fraser on a permanent basis from Newcastle United this summer.
Fraser was left out of the Newcastle first team last season by former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, under whom he played his greatest football at the Vitality Stadium.
The Scot joined in 2020 under Steve Bruce, and despite his previous manager’s departure, he evidently did not like the wide man on Tyneside, resulting in a deal with Martin’s side in the summer.
Fraser struggled to get going after joining the Saints at the conclusion of the summer season, playing eight games without a goal or assist before finally finding form with a late goal in a 2-1 away defeat to Hull City in mid-October.
He has improved significantly since then, with the 30-year-old contributing eight goals and three assists in 32 appearances across all competitions, according to Fbref. However, maybe the most important aspect of his skill set is his experience, which will undoubtedly come in handy in the final ten games of the season as he continues to push his claim for a permanent contract.
Even though Fraser officially has one year left on his Newcastle United contract, it’s evident that he’ll be leaving the North East permanently in the coming months, with Southampton eager to extend their relationship with the former Bournemouth player this summer.
According to Chronicle Live, Newcastle want to offload Fraser permanently this summer. The Magpies want to save money on their pay bill at the end of the season, and they regard Fraser, along with Isaac Hayden, Jamal Lewis, and Jeff Hendrick, as vital players in that effort.
According to TEAMtalk, Southampton are interested in signing Fraser on a permanent basis since he is a “really big character” in the dressing room, and a “modest fee” is apparently required.
Fraser is now out with a knee injury sustained in Southampton’s defeat to Millwall last month, but the club hopes to have the loanee back after the international break.
According to the source, he will be available for a “cut-price fee” as he enters the final year of his contract with Newcastle.
He arrived at the right time for the club in the summer. Martin’s roster lacked out-and-out wide men, as evidenced by the number of forward and midfield players who had to play in wide positions, as well as the arrival of David Brooks in January.
Fraser’s future at Newcastle is all but done, therefore a move to Southampton would be a logical next step for the player, however his wages may be a stumbling barrier if they are near to the rumoured £60,000.
If Southampton do not earn promotion, they should still want to keep Fraser in the team if possible, as his experience has been a valuable asset to this relatively youthful group; whether they can agree on a decent wage package for both club and player is another problem.
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