Flynn Downes jets out of West Ham United pre-season camp amid Southampton transfer update
Flynn Downes has left West Ham United’s pre-season training camp in Austria ahead of his summer transfer to Southampton, according to Dharmesh Sheth.
The Sky Sports journalist reported via X on Monday (15 July) that the 25-year-old is set to jet back to the UK to complete his medical with the Saints before he makes the permanent move to the South Coast.
Julen Lopetegui’s side have given the midfielder permission to undergo a medical with Southampton and are set to receive a reported £18million for his services after he spent last season on loan in the Championship [Dharmesh Sheth, 15 July].
Will West Ham United sell Flynn Downes to Southampton in the summer transfer window?
Things can always move quickly in the transfer window and it hasn’t taken long for Downes’ move to Southampton to turn from speculation into an agreed-upon deal that now looks set to be completed sooner rather than later.
Ultimately, this is an excellent deal for the Hammers as they are getting £18million for a player who was deemed surplus to requirements last season and while he impressed in the Championship, has never set the Premier League alight.
From a Southampton perspective, they will just be happy to be getting one of the key players in their promotion push back permanently and for Downes, he will finally get to play regularly in the top flight.
Lopetegui has had time to assess the 25-year-old over pre-season and if he was desperate to keep him at the London Stadium, he would have likely had the power to block his exit and put the brakes on this move.
The former Real Madrid manager must be confident that he has the midfield depth to cope without him at this stage and only time will tell if that truly is the case.
In other West Ham news, a Galatasaray update has emerged in the summer transfer race for Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay
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