BREAKING NEWS: The €25m deal for Kamaldeen Sulemana prompts questions for Southampton – Opinion

Ghanaian international Sulemana made the choice to join Southampton over Everton, aiming to enhance the Saints’ chances of avoiding relegation.

The transfer, valued at a reported £22m (€25m) with additional bonuses, exceeded Southampton’s previous club-record signing of Danny Ings from Liverpool in 2019, which stood at £22m.

Ghanaian winger Sulemana made the decision to join Southampton over Everton, aiming to bolster the Saints’ chances of promotion back to the Premier League.

After featuring 18 times in the Premier League last season, unable to prevent Southampton’s relegation, Sulemana has played 17 matches in the Championship this season, as the Saints push for a return to the top flight.

Currently, Southampton sits in fourth place after 33 matches, just two points behind Leeds United in the automatic promotion spots. Despite losing only twice in all competitions since the end of September, Southampton suffered a recent defeat at home to Hull City.

Signed for a club-record fee, expectations were high for the 22-year-old winger upon his arrival in January 2023. However, Sulemana has struggled to make a significant impact, failing to score in the Championship this season and managing just three assists.

While he boasts the highest successful dribbles in the Championship, Sulemana’s lack of attacking output has hindered his chances of cementing a place in the starting lineup. He faces competition from other talented wingers at Southampton, such as Adam Armstrong, Ryan Fraser, and Sam Edozie, who have contributed significantly in terms of goals and assists.

Despite his relatively low goal-scoring record throughout his career, Sulemana needs to find his scoring touch to justify his hefty price tag and alleviate concerns over his performance. With 13 league matches remaining in the season, there is still an opportunity for Sulemana to make an impact and help Southampton’s promotion push.