x

Jack Stephens Linked With Move To Watford

According to Watford fans social media, the Hornets are said to be chasing a move for Saints central defender Jack Stephens, this could be part of a chain reaction should he leave.

Whilst I have never been the greatest fan of Jack Stephens I have to say I respect him as a good club man and squad player, he has had a role to play at St Mary's and I'm not facetious enough to say something nasty about him in this respect.

So the news that Watford may be coming in for him is good in that if we are willing to let him go then, it would leave us a little short in the central defender department, so you would assume that it would mean that we have incoming before the end of the transfer window.

During his time at St Mary's Jack has started 109 Premier League game in the 5 1/2 years since he made his Premier League debut in January 2017 at the age of 23, but the bulk of these were played in the early part of his time in the first team squad.

He has spent several spells out on loan, the first were at Swindon Town in League one across 1 1/2 seasons, followed by going for a years loan to Middlesbrough in the Championship, this was not successful and he was recalled in the January after making the first team just once in the League.

He then joined Coventry City for the rest of that season (2015/16) in League One.

Since then he has been a regular member of the Saints squad and at times commanded a spot as first choice, he is also versatile able to play in several positions, but ultimately the blunt truth is at Premier League player he is a good squad player.

I would suggest that given his contract and the wages he is being paid at Southampton, that a loan deal is the more likely of the two options and a permanent deal would be out of Watford's wage structure.

What to read next:

Farke happy with the result after bore draw at Norwich
Many neutrals have complained on social media that yesterday’s game at Norwich City was a bit on the dull side, but the Leeds team wasn't set up to please them. For us it was the result that mattered, and it should leave us in a better position to get through to the final.
Norwich Awaydaze
For the second time this season we are visiting Norwich City, this time for the play-off game at high noon on Sunday, and the kick-off time is of course thanks to our good friends at Sky Sports. You’ll find Carrow Road is about a mile to the south-east of the city centre.
May the 4th not with us as we finish the regular season with a tepid defeat
If we were ever going to have a final day miracle we needed a much better performance than this final day showing against Southampton, so now we have to endure the agony of the play-offs yet again.
Leeds United 1 - 2 Southampton - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Leeds heading for the play-offs after shocker at QPR
Just when we thought we’d turned the corner with that win at Boro, we slipped back into the desperate form of the post-international break period, losing heavily to Queens Park Rangers in this critical game.
Queens Park Rangers 4 - 0 Leeds United - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
QPR Awaydaze
Our trip to Queens Park Rangers is at 8pm on Friday, thanks once again to our very good friends at Sky Sports. We’re not famous any more!
Crisis, what Crisis?
As Mark Twain might have said, rumours of the death of our promotion hopes have been greatly exaggerated. Last night’s win at Middlesbrough was a hard watch towards the end, but the vital three points has got our campaign back on track.
Middlesbrough 3 - 4 Leeds United - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Middlesbrough Awaydaze
Our visit to Middlesbrough kicks off at 8pm tomorrow night, once again thanks to our very good friends at Sky TV. We’re not famous any more!