Saints Linked With Brentford Defender
Saints are being strongly linked with Brentford central defender Chris Mepham , but is he of the quality needed.
Brentford defender Chris Mepham is rumoured to be a target for Saints but is the 21 year old ready for the Premier League now or one for the future.
Certainly he seems to be a little raw to be ready to be thrown in at the deep end having only turned 21 in November and only a season and a half's experience in the Championship for the Bee's.
Ironically he got his chance in the Brentford first team after the departure of Harlee Dean to Birmingham at the start of last season, some Saints fans may remember that Dean spent two seasons with Saints between 2010-12 after signing from Dagenham & Redbridge, a strange signing given the then 19 year old had been released from the Daggers having made only one appearance, that was however one more than he made for Saints and although he did make the bench in a couple of cup ties he never got on the pitch in a first team game.
With Saints back in the Premier he was released and joined Brentford where he spent the last six months of his Saints career on loan and racked up over 200 games before leaving for Birmingham.
Although he was born in West London Mepham has been capped at full international level by Wales and at 6ft 3 is not only commanding in the air in the centre of defence but can play at right back and would certainly fit into a back three easily.
I wouldn't completely rule out this signing, Ralph Hasenhuttl certainly has a penchant for giving youth a chance and not being scared to use youngsters, but ost Saints fans would say experience is needed at the back at the moment and if we did sign Mepham then we should perhaps be looking for a short term option as well even if it is on loan.
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