Damion Downs hasn't yet clicked yet for Saints and has been missing in recent weeks through injury, but it seems he may have a decision to make about his future in the next week or so.
Earlier this month Tonda Eckert insisted that Damion Downs had a part to play this season and was part of his plans, however reports are emerging from Germany that he is attracting interest from Bundesliga clubs.
sportwitness say that "HSV Hamburg have initiated contact over signing Southampton’s Damion Downs in the winter market."
They go on to say that Downs is interested in the move as he wants to represent the USA in the forthcoming World Cup and that Hamburg are looking for a loan deal rather than a permanent move.
As for the player he is reported as planning to evaluate all options in the ‘coming days’ and then make a decision.
It is also said that several other Bundeliga clubs are monitoring the situation carefully.
From a Southampton perspective a loan move might well suit them, Downs has yet to impress, although it has to be said for most of those games he was playing in a team that was playing badly and he was far from the only player struggling, Finn Azaz & Tom Fellows were two other signings who under Will Still were not performing well, but under Tonda Eckert have blossomed.
However they fitted the new manager's system that's based on a centre forward dropping deep and then laying the ball off, when Downs has played under Eckert he has struggled in that system.
So loaning out Downs will maybe help the player himself find his feet again and perhaps return to the club with a bit more confidence for next season.
Saints themselves could also make use of the loan market for a replacement for a like for like replacement.
But how much substance these reports have will soon be apparent, after all this is the silly season, most rumours have their origins with a player's agent, so could this be Damion Downs agent starting to stimulate interest in his client.