Southampton FC has been asked to keep their talisman, Adam Armstrong, after allegations surfaced that the seasoned striker is considering a new challenge in his career.

Saints’ first campaign back in the Championship has been immensely difficult, but they were able to return to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 victory over Sheffield United on Wednesday.

Tonda Eckert had come under intense scrutiny from large sections of the South Coast fanbase prior to the victory over the Blades, with the German largely unable to build on an initially positive string of results he put together during his spell as interim head coach and the first two games of his permanent stint, which followed Will Still’s dismissal on November 2nd.

Southampton are presently 15th in the second tier rankings, with 36 points from 28 games, and seven points behind Preston North End, who hold the final play-off spot.

So far, the winter transfer window at St Mary’s has seen more outgoings than incomings, with Gavin Bazunu, Ronnie Edwards, and Damion Downs all leaving on loan or permanent deals, while Eckert’s goalkeeper reshuffle also saw Daniel Peretz complete an initial temporary switch from Bayern Munich.

Football League World has exclusively revealed that a number of Premier League clubs are still keeping an eye on one-time England international Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Saints could face a double blow if both he and Armstrong leave without adequate replacements.

As a result, Martin Sanders, FLW’s Southampton FC fan commentator, has encouraged the club to do everything in their power to keep the striker as they try to turn around a difficult campaign between now and the conclusion of the season.

Southampton FC asked to retain Adam Armstrong amid departure hints, with “club legend” claim made.

Rudy Galetti revealed on Tuesday that the former Newcastle United academy graduate is seeking a new career after nearly five years with the Saints.

Armstrong joined the South Coast club under Ralph Hasenhuttl’s management in the summer of 2021, after a £15 million fee was negotiated with Blackburn Rovers.

After initially struggling to adjust to the Premier League under the Austrian, as well as the first of two relegation campaigns during his time with the club, the North East native became a cult hero under Russell Martin in the 2023/24 season, as Saints regained their top flight status for the first time.

Armstrong scored 24 goals during the club’s promotion-winning season, the last and most crucial of which came in the play-off final victory over Leeds United.

Despite another challenging season in the Premier League, the striker has 11 goals in 28 games this season, despite the Saints’ inability to build a sustained promotion campaign.

Sanders has expressed that losing his services would be devastating and that he would prefer to be replaced by Joel Piroe from Leeds.Sanders described him as a club and championship icon, as well as a hero for the team after promotion.He was spectacular that season, scoring numerous goals. “He’s amazing in the Championship.”Even this year, he experienced a brief run of success before losing steam. However, he remains one of the Championship’s leading scorers.Sanders emphasized the importance of finding a suitable replacement before letting him leave.Joel Piroe is someone I like. I think he’s a fantastic player who would be everything we needed. “I don’t think he would step down and play in the Championship.”You have to realize that we are not the most appealing option for any player right now in the January transfer window.

“As difficult as it is, I would say they need to keep Armstrong until the summer as a bare minimum and then re-evaluate,” Sanders wrote.He has also served as vice-captain and is a good performer.I’d be very astonished if we let him go right now, as a Championship club that needs to achieve some sort of stability.

Southampton replacing Adam Armstrong with Joel Piroe seems incredibly unlikely right now.

It would be a nightmare for many Saints fans if Armstrong left, but the club still has some bargaining power because the forward is under contract until 2027.

However, it is fair to say that he has established himself as a cut above many other Championship strikers, as has Piroe, who has been connected with a number of second-tier clubs.

However, it has recently been reported that the Dutchman has turned down offers from up to five clubs in the division, including Saints, implying that selling one clinical striker at this level and immediately replacing him with another appears extremely unlikely at the moment.