Southampton is currently facing a crucial phase of resolving the futures of their players, and one of their loan stars has provided a hint regarding his next move.
Russell Martin is aware of the significant task ahead this summer as he strives to assemble a squad capable of competing in the Premier League. The recent experiences of Burnley, Luton Town, and Sheffield United highlight the challenges of survival in the top flight, with each team relegated after gaining promotion from the Championship.
However, Martin is currently focused on savoring the celebrations following Sunday’s 1-0 victory in the play-off final, understandably putting thoughts of the upcoming challenges on hold for now.
Nevertheless, once the excitement settles down, Martin will need to address the futures of several players, with Flynn Downes and Ryan Fraser reportedly topping his list of priorities. In contrast, midfielder Joe Rothwell has already provided an update on his future following the play-off final, suggesting a different situation for him.
Joe Rothwell has stated that his future at Southampton is uncertain, describing it as “up in the air.” Southampton acquired Rothwell on loan from Bournemouth during the January transfer window, alongside his teammate David Brooks.
Rothwell featured in 16 matches for the South Coasters, but only started four of them as Martin favored players like Will Smallbone, Downes, and Stuart Armstrong over him.
Despite limited playing time, the 29-year-old made a notable impact in some games, scoring two crucial braces off the bench in victories against Huddersfield and Sunderland. Martin even praised his remarkable goal against Sunderland as “amazing.”
Although Rothwell previously expressed his willingness to join the club permanently in March, his loan spell didn’t unfold as he had hoped. With just 23 minutes of game time in their final four matches and being unused in the play-off final, Rothwell acknowledged that his loan stint didn’t go quite as planned.
In an interview with the Daily Echo regarding his future, Rothwell stated: “I’ve obviously got to go back to Bournemouth. I will have conversations with them and see where they see me. We will take it from there really. I’m not thinking about that. We have just got promoted so it’s time to enjoy it for the next couple of days. Then I will get away with the family to relax and then come back ready to go.”
It seems that Joe Rothwell’s time with Southampton has come to an end. Had Southampton remained in the Championship and lost to Leeds in the play-off final, there might have been a possibility of loaning Rothwell back for the next season, which Sport Republic could have explored.
However, with Southampton’s promotion to the Premier League, it’s highly unlikely that Rothwell will return to St. Mary’s, especially with Martin aiming to enhance the quality of his midfield options.
Rothwell’s contract with Bournemouth runs until 2026, and given his limited starts at Southampton, it’s improbable that Andoni Iraola will utilize him regularly, if at all.
For the betterment of his career, Rothwell may need to seek opportunities away from the Vitality Stadium this summer. While he might not be deemed good enough for the top flight, many Championship clubs would eagerly welcome him into their squads.