£25k-a-week Southampton FC star could be big winner of Joe Aribo exit plan
Southampton is getting ready to return to the Championship following a disappointing 2024–2025 Premier League
season.
With Will Still trusted to lead the team into the upcoming season, the Saints have a fresh face in the dugout.
Several players may depart St. Mary’s this summer, as is frequently the case with teams demoted from the top
division.
Players like Aaron Ramsdale, Mateus Fernandes, and Tyler Dibling are all expected to leave, and Southampton may
end up earning roughly the same sum of money as they did after their previous relegation.
Three years after joining the Saints from Scottish powerhouse Rangers, Joe Aribo is also allegedly for sale this
summer.
compete for a spot in Still’s starting lineup.
Could Southampton see a comeback for Will Smallbone?
Another player who only has a year left on his deal with Southampton is Will Smallbone.
The 25-year-old played 46 games during the 2023–24 season, helping Russell Martin’s team earn promotion
through the play-offs. He was a notable player the last time the Saints played in the Championship.
He only played 18 games before being relegated, though, and was unable to maintain his spot in the Premier League.
The Irish international, who rose through St. Mary’s youth ranks, is committed to earning a contract extension for
the upcoming campaign.
The speculated departure of Aribo may allow Smallbone to establish himself once more, which would be
advantageous for the player and the team as they wouldn’t have to spend money on a replacement.
| Will Smallbone’s Championship stats – per FotMob | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Pass accuracy | Tackles won |
| 23/24 | Southampton | 43 | 6 | 3 | 89.7% | 69.4% |
| 22/23 | Stoke City | 43 | 3 | 5 | 77.2% | 61.3% |
He could be a key member of Still’s team next season because of his strong, athletic personality, which is well suited
to the physical battleground of a Championship midfield match.
Southampton can begin planning for the upcoming season with Smallbone included since the midfield player, who is
expected to make £25k per week at St Mary’s, understands what it takes to get promoted out of the division and is
unlikely to be pressing for an escape this summer.
Given his demonstrated ability, losing Aribo won’t be ideal for the South Coast team, but it might be just what
another of their midfield players needs to restart their careers.
Will Still could rely on Will Smallbone’s expertise next season
With promoted clubs with lofty goals in the likes of Birmingham City and Wrexham, the Championship is probably
going to be as fiercely contested as ever the next season.
Therefore, in order to get the best results, the top teams will need to use every member of their squad.
It could be worthwhile for Still to make Smallbone a more important member of the team if he must let go of other Saints players.
It would cost the club a deal of money to buy proven experience in the division, and it wouldn’t make sense to do so
when they have a midfielder in their ranks that has already performed competitively in the Championship.
As a result, next season could make for somewhat of a resurgence for Smallbone at St. Mary’s.
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