Arron Sanders looks at the news that Sam Gallagher looks set to sign a new deal at Saints and considers whether he could be the new Harry Kane.

Striker Sam Gallagher is set to sign a new contract with the club, according to a report in yesterdays the Mirror.

Gallagher who spent the 2016/17 season on loan to Blackburn in the Championship, ending with relegation to League One.

Despite their relegation, Gallagher had a breakdown scoring 12 league goals during his time at Ewood Park, attracting many Championship sides attention ahead of the transfer window.

The Southampton staff see Gallagher as one for the future and believe in his ability to break into the first-team again as he did under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino.

The 21-year-old has played 20 times for Southampton’s first-team since coming through the academy, only netting twice and as of yet not setting his career at St Mary's alight.

There are comparisons to be drawn with Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur, Kane's early time at Spurs was spent out on loan at a succession of clubs with varying degrees of success.

The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino in the summer of 2014 did not seem to help his cause and Spurs dangled him in front of Saints as they tried to prise Morgan Schneiderlin away from St Mary's, they failed and initially Kane was used mainly in the Europa League rather than the Premier and initially Pochettino did not seem to rate him, but he had to bow to pressure not just from the fans to include him in the side, but Kane himself who once in could not stop scoring. interestingly not making his first Premier League start till mid November.

Saints could have had Harry Kane, but considered that Gallagher might well be better and turned the deal down, could that decision yet prove to be a wise one ?

What do you make of Gallagher signing a new contract with the club? Could he become our version of Harry Kane in the future?

Photo: Action Images

highfield49 added 09:44 - Jun 26 Gallagher is certainly a better, sharper, player than he was two years ago but let's wait and see how he performs in pre-season matches before speculating too much on his future. I'm glad he's being compared with Kane rather than the overrated clogger Vardy.
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mgprobert added 09:45 - Jun 26 Yes, get him on a long deal, at least it will increase the price Liverpool eventually have to pay for him. A bit unfair to dangle the Kane comparison, but you're right Kane didn't do that much to begin with. Shame we didn't get him as well!
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Sanguin added 12:26 - Jun 26 David McGoldrick was 21/22 when he scored 12 goals in the season we were relegated from the Championship. I don’t think we’ll do any future ‘promising untried young player’ part-exchange deals in future. Partly because of the extensive scouting set up we have, but mostly because of the Anthony Pulis debacle.
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ItchenNorth added 13:24 - Jun 26 I can't see that Gallagher has a future with Saints in the Prem. This is just a protection policy for the club because they know Sam has his suitors. If they tie him onto a longer contract, we can demand more money from any transfer. If we got relegated, we have a proven Championship striker on our books !
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SaintBrock added 13:35 - Jun 26 What? You gotta be kidding.
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SaintBrock added 13:39 - Jun 26 Better than Harry Kane? What? You gotta be kidding.
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SaintBrock added 13:39 - Jun 26 "There are comparisons to be drawn with Harry Kane" What? You gotta be kidding.
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TimSaint added 18:16 - Jun 26 Harry Kane was not great in his early years at Spurs, going out on loan to the likes of Millwall etc. He got thrown in at the deep end when it came to first team in the Europa, as Poch didn't want to risk other strikers, as he saw the league as more important - got lucky with his scoring and the rest is history, as they say. Poch didn't like Kane that much at the start - in fact when he was trying to sign JRod before his injury, they were offering us Kane as part of a player plus cash deal !! I know every player develops differently, but perhaps when Sam had just burst onto the scene and scored v Norwich, maybe Saints presumed that they had unearthed another gem. Sam has been through a lot since then with injuries and a family bereavement, so hopefully the spell at Blackburn will hold him in good stead. I personally think he is way down the pecking order at Saints, so should probably go out on loan again and any new deal should definitely be signed - if only to preserve his price, should he eventually be sold.

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kenis added 18:54 - Jun 26 Should sign him up, see how he does in pre season and then decide whether to loan or not. I guess depends if Jay is to be sold or forces a move, if he goes then Sam should stay as can't see Charlie, Gabbi and Shane being fit for every game and think the experiment with Redmond up front I'm a two is over. In fact wouldn't be surprised to see us have 5 strikers in the squad if we keep Jay if we are going to mix up the tactics and considering Gabby, Shane and Jay all switch between wide man in a front three and up top as lone striker or part of pair. Would Sam learn more training with Saints than playing in championship relegation battle?

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