Lee Hendrie urges Southampton to resist Sam Edozie transfer interest

Lee Hendrie, a Sky Sports analyst and former Aston Villa player, has counselled Southampton, a Championship

team, to hold onto Samuel Edozie, a gifted young player who has drawn interest from several clubs in recent weeks.

After a poor performance that saw them miss the league record for the fewest points won by two points,

Southampton was demoted from the Premier League the previous season.

“With Samuel Edozie, I say this time and time again, with big and young players in particular falling away from the

Premier League,” Lee Hendrie stated in an interview with Football League World.

Given what players have accomplished at that level in the Premier League, teams of a larger size—possibly playing in

Europe or elsewhere—will always want to sign Edozie.

“I think if you can keep hold of these players, then you can build around these young and talented players they have

at the football club.”

As Will Still’s team starts their fight to return to the Premier League before the 2026–2027 season, Lee Hendrie

believes holding onto the former Manchester City academy player could be essential.

Recent transfer news has linked the Nigeria-eligible winger with a return to Belgium, where he spent the 2024-25

season on loan but this time with Club Brugge, and also a potential reunion with ex-Saints boss Russell Martin at

Rangers, who has seen his initial approach rejected by Southampton.

Since they have every opportunity of getting promoted again, I believe it would be best for him to stay. At that point,

you feel like you’re going on. It works sometimes and doesn’t work other times.

“I think keeping him at the football club would be the right decision,” he said.

Since joining Southampton in 2022, Samuel Edozie has made 19 appearances in Premier League matches.

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