Southampton midfielder Joe Rothwell has admitted that he is open to making his loan move from AFC Bournemouth a permanent one this summer.
The 29-year-old made the short switch to St Mary’s in January after only playing a bit-part role at the Cherries during the first half of the season. Beginning the campaign in Andoni Iraola’s starting lineup, the midfielder soon dropped out of the team. In total, he made 11 Premier League appearances, although just two came from the start, both in August.
As a result, a temporary move to Hampshire ensued as the Saints looked to bolster their squad ahead of the push for promotion back to the Premier League.
Whilst his spell with Russell Martin’s team has been a relative success to date, the former Blackburn Rovers man has also had to settle for a place amongst the substitutes. However, he has made an impact from the bench, most notably this past Saturday.
After taking a 2-0 first half lead against Sunderland, the Black Cats battled back to even the scores. Jobe Bellingham’s equaliser in the 71st minute prompted Martin to ring the changes, with Rothwell replacing Stuart Armstrong. The ex-Oxford United midfielder needed just four minutes to make his mark, restoring his sides lead with a cool finish from the edge of the box.
Two minutes later, he won the game with the second of his afternoon to secure a vital three points. The result maintained Southampton’s 10 point gap over fifth-placed West Bromwich Albion whilst keeping them six points behind Leeds United in second.
Speaking to The Daily Echo, Rothwell was quizzed about whether he would consider a permanent move to St Mary’s at the end of the season:
“Why not?” He said. “I’ve really enjoyed my time here. If my time at Bournemouth has come and passed, then it’s something I’m massively open to.
“But I’m not thinking about that at the minute.
“My main focus is to finish as high as we can and hopefully get into those automatic spots to get this club back to the Premier League.”
Southampton do possess a game in hand on the teams above them and are set for a prolonged break before their next fixture. Leicester City’s progression to the FA Cup quarter final means that they have this weekend off before the international break the following week. Their next outing will see them host a rejuvenated Middlesbrough at the end of the month.
Writer’s View
Rothwell is clearly happy with life at his new club, although hopes of a permanent transfer may rest on how Southampton finish the season. His contract at Bournemouth runs until 2026 and the Saints may not be willing to fork out a fee for a squad player if they find themselves back in the Premier League.
A season-long loan move could be an option that suits all parties, especially if there are no clubs willing to pay out for his services. Whether that is at St Mary’s remains to be seen.
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