Southampton must take advantage of Lyon troubles to bring wonderkid home, he’s proven he’s a ‘real goalscorer’

Add as preferred source on Google

With Southampton looking to bounce straight back to the Premier League this coming season, there’s one player they know all about that they simply have to try and sign this summer.

A truly dismal showing in the top flight last season saw Southampton drop back down to the Championship with just 12 points on the board.

Now, the Saints have a new manager in Will Still, and are strongly tipped for promotion in 2025/26. But, they’ll need new signings to strengthen the squad first.

There are plenty of signings Southampton should make this summer, but one very exciting prospect is the return of Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez.

• READ MORE: Club president slams Southampton for their ‘constant demands’ as problems emerge with £18m star

Lyon are in chaos, Southampton have to swoop for Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez

While John Textor has recently been linked with buying Sheffield Wednesday, one of his current clubs has fallen into disarray. Lyon’s financial troubles have seen them relegated to Ligue 2, and the French giants are in a real mess now.

As Lyon attempt to recover from this monumental setback, there are sure to be sales this summer. Rayan Cherki already left the club for a reported £34m, and he won’t be the last.

Bigger clubs may swoop for the top talent at Lyon, but Southampton could and should go for teenage sensation, Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez.

He’s a player the Saints know all about, having developed the youngster through their academy before letting him leave for Lyon last summer.

Gomes Rodriguez enjoyed himself in the Lyon youth team last season with 12 goals in 22 matches, and even made his debut for the senior team against Lens in the latter stages of the campaign, as well as being on the bench for a Europa League tie against Manchester United.

Now, with Lyon dropping down a division, the 17-year-old may well fancy himself to get more first-team minutes. But, given the financial crisis at the club, there’s every chance he will be sacrificed.

Southampton would not be the only club interested in his services, but with his connection to the club already, plus the fact Will Still will know all about his qualities having coached in France, it makes perfect sense for Gomes Rodriguez to come home.

• READ MORE: Southampton star has a ‘lot of options’ this summer, he definitely won’t be staying in the Championship

What Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez has said about his time in France

Gomes Rodriguez was born in Venezuela, raised in Southampton, and has represented England at youth level. He’s a pacy, intelligent young player who loves to cut in from the left-hand side and terrorise defences as a wide attacker or a centre forward.

He operated wider for Southampton’s youth teams, but upon moving to Lyon, Gomes Rodriguez made a key decision that has helped take his game to the next level.

“I score a lot of goals and I hope to score a lot of goals for Lyon so that I can join the first team as soon as possible. I’d say I’m a real goalscorer,” he told the Lyon website last summer.

Gomes Rodriguez also said (via the Daily Echo): “I had been playing on the wing for Southampton but I said to myself that I want to be a striker, and I told Lyon when I moved that I wanted to be a striker and I want to score goals.”

Southampton are not exactly blessed in the attacking department right now. They struggled for goals last season, and with Paul Onuachu departing this summer, Still will need reinforcements.

It could be a bit of a gamble to rest the hopes of promotion on the shoulders of a teenager, but Gomes Rodriguez is hungry to prove himself and has the potential to explode if given the opportunity.

Make it happen, Southampton!