Southampton striker Che Adams has become a target for Premier League side Wolves and Championship rivals Leeds United, as reported by TEAMtalk.
The 26-year-old is out of contract with the Saints this summer, and it is understood that a new deal is yet to be agreed for the forward. With just over two months remaining before his contract runs out, the Scottish striker seems set to leave the South Coast this summer, alerting clubs to his availability.
Everton have been persistently linked with a move for Adams for some time now. Still, a move to Goodison Park would seem unlikely given their current situation, even though Sean Dyche is a long-time admirer of the former Sheffield United man.
Adams’ Southampton Career.
The forward has been a regular figure at Saint Mary’s since he joined from Birmingham City in 2019. However, since their relegation from the Premier League last term, there have been doubts surrounding his future on the South Coast, and with his time running up with the club, it seems to be over, seeing the Saints lose a player they paid €16.7 million for nothing.
Adams has 19 goal contributions in 39 games for Southampton this season in all competitions, taking his total to 64 in 184 games for his club.
Despite his return for the club in terms of goal contributions, Adams has not been a regular starter this season, only in the starting eleven for 50% of the Saints games this season.
O’Neill targets a move for Adams.
Premier League side Wolves are one team named with an interest in Adams this summer once he becomes a free agent. Gary O’Neill’s side sit 11th in the league after what could be called an overachievement of a season, with many predicting the possibility of the side being relegation candidates when he replaced former manager Julien Lopetegui.
Despite that league position casting them in a positive light, goals have been hard to come by for the Midlands side, having only scored 44 this season and only managing more than two goals on three occasions this campaign, two of which were defeats.
The club are without a recognised striker after Raul Jimenez joined league rivals Fulham in the summer. The Mexican forward scored 57 goals in over 160 appearances for Wolves before leaving for Craven Cottage last summer.
Hwang Hee-Chan and Matheus Cunha are the club’s top scorers this season, with both scoring 11 goals.
Adams’ free agent status will only boost Wolves in the transfer market this summer, with reports suggesting that transfer funds may be restricted for O’Neill. This supposed restriction is also believed to be what led to the sale of players such as Jimenez as well as Ruben Neves.
Leeds keen on Adams.
With clubs across England, as well as Europe, said to be interested in a move for the Scottish international, one other club who was named was Southampton’s Championship rivals, Leeds United. The side has been one of the most prolific in front of goal this season, and it is their front four that have drawn most of the attention with their remarkable goal return.
Daniel James has been a standout performer for the club after his last two transfers were underwhelming, and Italian international Wilfried Gnonto has been in the spotlight for Everton. Despite those two names mentioned, Crysensio Summerville has earned the most attention of all, with Liverpool keen on a move for the winger and Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen most recently joining the race for his signature. The German side did take on a Championship winger last season who has excelled for the team in Nathan Tella, who spent last season on loan at Burnley from Southampton.