The Athletic report that as Southampton failed to make progress on a new contract for Kyle Walker-Peters last summer, several suitors monitored his situation.
The outlet write that most notably, Arsenal kept tabs on the full-back, and he’d seemingly be a good fit for Mikel Arteta’s side. His versatility as a player capable of playing on either flank is particularly intriguing.
This isn’t completely new information, with David Ornstein reporting last July that Arsenal had Walker-Peters on their shortlist for the right-back position. The Gunners didn’t end up making a signing in the position.
Walker-Peters is one of a number of Southampton players who will likely hope to be on the move this summer, should the team go down.
As it stands, Southampton are eight points away from escaping the relegation zone, and even then they’d have a huge goal difference gap to make up. In reality, it’s more like a nine-point gap, with three games left.
Should they fail to win against Fulham on Saturday afternoon, their relegation will be confirmed, and the vultures will start to circle.
Walker-Peters has made 35 appearances for Southampton in all competitions this season, despite a couple of hamstring injuries in the middle of the campaign. He’s started their last 11 Premier League fixtures, either playing at right-back or left-back.
The biggest positive of Southampton’s campaign was undoubtedly the run to the League Cup semi-final, and Walker-Peters played 90 minutes as they knocked Manchester City out in the quarters.
But it looks like being a campaign to forget, and the catalyst for a firesale at Southampton.
