Most of the news over the past few weeks has been about players leaving St Mary's, but now comes reports of an incoming transfer and this one seems to have some substance, rather than just speculation.

The player in question is Josh Windass, who played at St Mary's back in November and impressed the Saints recruitment department soring the Owls goal in the 1-1 draw before the EFL cup tie was settled in Saints favour with penalties.

The SheffieldStar being a local newspaper would usually be a little bit more on the ball on what is happening at their local club than the usual round of ex pros and online only media outlets.

They say that back in January they reported that a "struggling Premier League club" were tracking Windass and that they can now reveal that the club in question was Southampton.

They also point out that Russell Martin was a team mate of Windass when they were both at Rangers in the Scottish Premier League and claim that further strengthens ties.

When Windass scored at St Mary's the Saints and Wednesday were two divisions apart, but his 123rd minute diving header against Barnsley in the League 2 play off final at Wembley secured the Owls return to the Championship.

The Hull-born forward who as some will know is the son of former Hull City and a plethora of other clubs striker Dean Windass, scored an impressive tally of 17 goals and seven assists in 2022/23 despite missing two months of the campaign’s run-in with a foot injury.

You would have thought that moving to St Mary's from Sheffield Wednesday would not be that attractive to Windass, but the report points out that the 5ft 9 inch striker come attacking midfielder was out of contract at Hillsborough at the end of the season, although Wednesday have triggered a years extension.

The player is seen to be a major player for Darren Moore in the Wednesday squad, but the fact that the club have only invoked his one year extension rather than sign him to a longer deal might mean that Windass himself does not feel that he has security and might well look for a longer deal at a club such as Southampton.

For those wanting experience, in terms of age Josh Windass has it, he will turn 30 in January 2024, but in terms of where and for whom he has played his CV is not impressive.

After being released by Huddersfield Town as a youngster he drifted into non league football, his performances there led to Accrington Stanley signing him in 2013, after 3 years in Lancashire that had been steady rather than impressive, out of contract he was signed by Glasgow Rangers.

This is not as impressive as it sounds in that due to financial irregularities Rangers had been demoted to the 3rd Division of Scottish football and in the summer of 2016 when Windass joined they were newly promoted back to the Premier League and not yet back to their former glories.

He spent two season with Rangers and in the second of them he finished up as joint top scorer with 18 goals.

That lead to a move to Championship side Wigan in 2018 and his time there would not be great, in 2 1/2 seasons he would play 52 games and score just 9 goals, that lead to Wigan allowing him to join fellow Championship side Sheffield Wednesday on loan in January 2020, Covid 19 was about to hit and he would make just 9 appearances and score 3 times before returning to Wigan.

But the Owls were impressed and signed him for a fee said to be around £500k, since then he has started 68 League games for the Owls plus 17 as sub scoring 24 goals.

The Sheffield Star seem to think that Josh Windass could be moving on, if he is his current market value according to Transfermarkt given his age and contract length would be around £600k.

That could represent a good investment for Saints who would get a good strong attacking player for a low price, for Windass himself a move might be attractive due to getting the security of a longer contract than he has been offered by his current employers.

Photo: Action Images

Block8 added 10:30 - Jun 13 He is 29 and that doesn't line up with our normal transfer policy, although times aren't normal. If true it would seem to strengthen the rumours that Che is on his way!
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SaintNick added 13:54 - Jun 13 People keep referring to "normal transfer policy" but under Sport Republic it has been varied Joe Aribo was 26, Caleta Car a few weeks off 26, Orsic 30, James Bree 25 years old, Tall Paul 28 years old, so around half of our signings under Sport Republic have been older than 25/26
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SanMarco added 09:17 - Jun 14 "Normal" and "Sport Republic" in the same sentence - aghh, although of course if we had come 8th last year that comment would be praise. I assume the new manager will have some say in this. For the manager to have a chance of success he will need players he wants. So if he wants this particular guy then go for it (rather a "normal" way of looking at things but who knows it might work.)

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underweststand added 17:58 - Jun 14 We need some "older heads " out there on the pitch, and the disappearance of some of the present squad will make " experience" a necessary commodity. Windass isn't Prem. quality striker by any stretch of the imagination, but he knows his way around and will add a little "grit" to the attack and has a half-decent strike record and will help the younger lads who are seeking to make a career. Surely, no-one expects him to get a 4 year contract, but he will be able to add some positive ideas to what has been a sub-standard strike force in the last 2 seasons.

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