Southampton returned to the top flight after just one season away, winning 1-0 at Wembley on Sunday thanks to a goal from Adam Armstrong in the first half.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis, 22, was on loan from Manchester City, with an option to buy for £20 million if the team advanced. The Saints’ promotion secured his permanent signing. As other loanees David Brooks and Joe Rothwell face unclear futures, the focus is currently on securing the future of Flynn Downes and Ryan Fraser. If Southampton hadn’t won promotion, one of their greatest players would have been forced to leave in the summer due to his skill.
He may now choose to remain with the team now that he has achieved a promotion.
An advancement for Southampton might keep Kyle Walker-Peters. The biggest threat to Leeds, Crysencio Summerville, was taken out of the game by Kyle Walker-Peters during the play-off final. Because of his outstanding achievements, the £20,000-per-week guy was even linked to a January move to Chelsea. He was the only player from Southampton to be named to the EFL Championship Team of the Season.
Walker-Peters would not have had the financial means to continue in the Championship for a second season for the sake of his career, even with two caps for his own England. This season, Walker-Peters, 27, has thrived playing football for the Saints under manager Russell Martin. Martin has allowed Walker-Peters to join the attack and shift into the midfield when the chance arises. If they didn’t make it into the playoffs, Martin acknowledged that the team would have to sell the right-back.
