Southampton FC could replace Mateus Fernandes with ambitious move for Coventry City star.

While Southampton still needs to finish their Premier League season, the majority of the club’s attention will be on summer transfer plans as they prepare to return to the Championship.

The Saints have struggled in the top-flight since their play-off victory over Leeds United last season. They have only 12 points from 36 league games, with a goalless draw against Manchester City narrowly surpassing Derby County’s lowest-ever points tally of 11 in 2007-08.

The Saints are still preparing for a trip to Everton before hosting Arsenal on the final day, but they will be eager to join England’s elite immediately by dominating the Championship and competing for automatic promotion spots.

With the South Coast side’s fate already decided, rumours are circulating about who will leave the St Mary’s Stadium, with playmaker Mateus Fernandes being linked with a move away from the club.

Impressive for the Saints and still very young, he is a figure who could command a high transfer fee, and Southampton should look to replace his absence with a proven Championship star if his potential departure occurs.

Mateus Fernandes considers leaving Southampton

With the unavoidable financial cuts that come with relegation, Southampton will have to deal with a slew of player departures, with Mateus Fernandes potentially one of them following his standout performance.

The 20-year-old has become a key member of the team, starting 32 out of 34 games and scoring two goals and three assists.

At 20, it’s an ideal start to top-flight life, and with plenty of room to grow and develop, it’s easy to see why he could continue to play for England’s elite next season.

Fernandes is attracting interest from Nottingham Forest, who secured a return to European football after a 2-2 draw with Leicester City last weekend.

Fernandes could become a regular starter in Nuno Espirito Santo’s line-up if Morgan Gibbs-White’s links to Manchester City strengthen this summer.

With this in mind, Southampton should be compiling a list of potential replacements for Fernandes, with Coventry City’s Jack Rudoni at the top of the list following a stellar season at the CBS Arena.

Southampton should use their pulling power to buy Jack Rudoni

Southampton could benefit from signing Jack Rudoni, a versatile playmaker who excelled for Coventry City under Frank Lampard. Rudoni scored nine goals and 12 assists in the regular season and also scored in the first leg of their play-off semi-final against Sunderland.

Coventry’s heartbreaking exit from the play-offs will also help Southampton entice Rudoni away, as the Saints can offer a more likely path to top-flight football and a larger pay rise due to their superior financial resources.

It goes without saying that Coventry will demand a fortune for Rudoni, their most influential player, but selling Fernandes for a significant profit could help push a deal for the Sky Blues man through.

If Rudoni can replicate and carry over what he did with Coventry next season, the 23-year-old could help make Fernandes’ sale a distant memory and play a key role in propelling Southampton to the top of the table and realising his top-flight ambitions.

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