Harrison Reed (Getty Images)
According to Evening Standard, Fulham are interested in signing Southampton midfielder Harrison Reed on a permanent basis ahead of the new campaign.
Reed, 25, rose through the ranks at St. Mary’s and was promoted to club’s senior set-up in August 2013. In four years for Southampton, he could make only 30 appearances and spent the rest of his Saints career on loan spells. He played for Norwich City and Blackburn in the Championship before joining Fulham on loan last summer.
Though he initially struggled with a calf injury, Reed played a key role in helping the Cottagers get promoted to the top-flight this term. He was one of the most influential figures in the second half of the campaign under Scott Parker and seems to have improved a lot. Thus, Southampton should avoid selling him on a permanent basis.
The Saints, meanwhile, have been one of the best sides in the second half of the Premier League as they managed to finish 11th in the league standings. Despite hovering around the relegation zone for the majority of the 2019/20 campaign, Ralph Hasenhuttl did an excellent job to help them to a respectable finish.
However, with the new season approaching in a few weeks’ time, the manager should look to strengthen his squad to do better right from the start. They are capable of finishing in the top half of the table and should be able to challenge that.
At the moment, there are only three defensive midfielders available at the manager’s disposal. Mario Lemina joined Southampton back in August 2017 but he hasn’t claimed the spot for himself yet. He was sent on loan to Galatasaray last summer but could make only 20 league appearances for the Turkish outfit and his consistency has been a major concern.
Spaniard Oriol Romeu is another defensive midfielder in the squad but he has also not been at his best. He was just given bit-part roles for the majority of the campaign. Moreover, Romeu has just one more year left on his contract and his departure next summer could leave them with limited options. Thus, keeping hold of Reed would be a wise decision by the club.
The 25-year-old has proved himself in the Championship with Fulham this season and was also a key player in his last two seasons for the clubs he played for. Despite struggling with injuries, Reed has been in good nick since his return.
Keeping him would help the Saints maintain their depth in midfield as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is on the verge of an exit, as per BBC. Given his good run of form, the manager should hand him the right opportunities and Reed could help them in their future endeavours.
At 25, the Worthing-born midfielder is in the form of his life and has already proved his mettle in the Championship in the last few years. And allowing him to leave permanently would also cost Southampton a lot if they go in search of another defensive midfielder. Thus, they should keep hold of Reed by extending his contract with the club.
