According to a recent report from The Daily Mirror, forward Danny Welbeck could be set for a move away in the near future. The England international, who went to the World Cup with his country this summer, currently plays his football at Premier League giants Arsenal and has done so since 2014, scoring 31 goals for the North London club in the process.

Yet reports suggest that no agreement is close with the 27-year-old over an extension to his current contract, and with that deal set to expire in the summer, it looks as though Welbeck will be ending his four-year stint at the Emirates Stadium in the not-too-distant future.

And having tormented Southampton in recent times, Saints boss Mark Hughes should seek to lure the forward to St Mary’s, as he would be exactly what they need to move up the Premier League table.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, goal-scoring has been a major problem for the South Coast outfit in the last few years, with the Saints scoring just 37 times in the Premier League last season in finishing 17th in the table, and having managed just six goals in their seven matches this time round.

And while Danny Ings has made a fast start to life at the club, manager Hughes simply cannot rely solely on him to get the goals, with the likes of Charlie Austin, Manolo Gabbadini, and Shane Long all failing to net so far this term.

And given Welbeck has certainly produced the goods at St Mary’s and indeed against Southampton over the years, alongside the qualities he would bring to the forward ranks, he’d be the perfect addition to take the Saints up the Premier League table.

The 27-year-old has scored five goals in eight games against Southampton during his career, more than he has managed against any other club, including two in Arsenal’s 5-0 FA Cup win at St Mary’s back in 2017, and then another brace in the Gunners’ 3-2 Premier League success at the Emirates Stadium last season - he has tormented the Saints in recent years.

And given what he would offer Hughes’ men on the field as well, be it an aerial presence for the likes of Nathan Redmond and Ryan Bertrand to aim at from out wide, or indeed the pace to get in-behind opposition backlines and thus latch onto through balls, the Saints could seriously reap the rewards from bringing him to the club.

Yes, his overall Premier League goal-scoring record is nothing to shout about, but Welbeck has enjoyed a fine 2018 in netting six goals in the second half of last season for the Gunners, as well as adding four in the early stages of this campaign - he is playing some of the best football of his career.

And with Southampton clearly in need of further attacking reinforcements to move away from the bottom three, Hughes must seek to lure Saints tormentor Welbeck to St Mary’s.

Southampton fans… what do you think? Let us know!