Southampton currently have one of the lowest rate of expected goals (19.1) in the Premier League this season having only found the net 17 times in 19 games.
One player in Nathan Jones’ squad that the Saints fans will have hoped to have been more of a consistent goal threat than he has been in this campaign is Adam Armstrong.
Specifically, with 18 league appearances to his name, the 25-year-old has only been able to score one goal and provide one assist for his side.
With the south coast club already bringing in two new players to strengthen their squad this month, one other player that they have been linked with that we feel would not only add some extra depth to their attack but also be an upgrade on Armstrong is Daizen Maeda.
Having made 51 appearances for the Scottish giants, the winger has scored 15 goals and delivered 10 assists along the way, taking his club total to 68 goals in 238 appearances.
In terms of being an upgrade on Armstrong, the two player’s individual domestic campaigns this term have shown why this could be the case.
Has Adam Armstrong been a good signing for Southampton?
Yes
No
For example, in addition to scoring five goals and supplying five assists in the SPFL, the Japanese attacker has also racked up a higher rate of shots at goal per 90 minutes (1.83 vs 1.64) than Armstrong and delivered more crosses than the Saints figure (30 vs 13).
Then from a defensive point of view, the 25-year-old has also made more interceptions (11 vs 2) and won more tackles (18 vs 5) than the £55k-per-week Southampton attacker, showing just how hard-working he is off the ball as well as being a consistent goal threat on it.
In fact, Maeda’s work off the ball has been praised in the past by Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou who described the winger’s efforts off the ball as “enormous” and “outstanding” back in October.
Taking all of this into account, even though the Saints have already added Mislav Orsic to their squad this month, if they can secure Maeda’s signature as well before the window shuts, this would surely be a great signing for Jones and the club.