Southampton have suffered another blow ahead of their match against Leeds United this month as they lose out on the chance to progress to the top of the table. The striker was sent off for the first time in his career in Friday night’s 4-1 loss to Leicester City, meaning he will miss the match. The Saints have now failed to score a goal in 16 of their opening six games under Russell Martin since the international break when they were thrashed 5-0 by Sunderland on the opening day of the new season. The striker was in action for the first time since recovering from injury and was guilty of a loose pass that led to Leicester’s fourth goal before being sent off in the final minute of stoppage time.
Sulemana to miss Southampton vs Leeds
The nature of his red card means he will now miss Southampton’s next three games, with the third against Leeds at the end of this month. He will also be out of action for Tuesday’s home game against Ipswich Town and next weekend’s trip to bottom-of-the-table Middlesbrough. However, Russell Martin believes there are grounds for appealing the dismissal and, if successful, will be back in the game. “The red card was a bit harsh, so it wouldn’t surprise me if it was overturned,” Martin said. The 30-year-old has been a key player for Southampton so far this season, and their £30m valuation has put off a number of interested clubs in the summer.
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Kyle Walker-Peters issues Southampton transfer admission
Russell Martin hasn’t had the best start to his time as Southampton manager, with the club’s fine August run coming to an end after two drubbing at the hands of Sunderland and Leicester. The Saints squad looks very different from what it did at the end of last season, with a number of key players departing during the transfer window, including long-time captain James Ward
Prowse. However, one player who did stay at the club, despite being heavily linked with a move elsewhere, was right-back Kyle Walkerspeters. The England international, who featured twice for the national team in 2022, was said by Tom Barclay to have been on the radar of a number of clubs, including Fulham and Lens, as well as AS Roma. Newcastle United also showed an interest, but in the end they were able to land another Southampton full-back, Valentino Livramento, just before the transfer deadline of September 1. Walker-Peters is set to be a key part of Martin’s squad moving forward, with James Bree set to be his only real rival in the right-back role.
What has Kyle Walker-Peters said about potential Southampton exit?
Walker-Peters confirmed the interest in his services, but insists he never wanted to leave St Mary’s this summer. “I was aware of the interest,” he told the Daily Echo, “but I’m not someone who would try to force my way out of the club or make things public. It’s not my style. I came in and talked to the manager on the first day and worked hard to learn his new style. I really enjoy working with him. I’m focused on Southampton and helping the club get back into the top-tier. I hope we can do that.” “I love Southampton more than anything else in the world,” he added, when asked if talks with Martin at the start of the summer convinced him to stay, “He’s been great with me, and he’s been great with everyone. He’s implemented his new style really well and I’m enjoying it. The main focus for me and the rest of the team is to help the club get back in the Premier League.
What is Kyle Walker-Peters’ current situation with Southampton?
The full-back is still on an initial deal that was agreed in 2020 – a five-year agreement – and with an out-of-contract date in June 2025, he has less than a year left on his Southampton contract. So, when January comes around, Southampton won’t be in a rush to offload Walker-Peters – depending on where the club finds themselves in the league table at that time, the player could be in for a world of trouble if they aren’t in or near the top six at the top of the table. On paper, Walker-Peters should be one of the top-tier right-backs, and it’s no surprise that he’s still with the second tier – top-flight outfits will almost certainly be keen to bring him in in January.
