"Ross Stewart is the future" - Claim made as Southampton eye Rangers star Kemar Roofe | OneFootball

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Southampton have been linked with a move for Rangers forward Kemar Roofe.

According to Football Insider, the Saints are considering a deal for the 31-year-old this summer.

This comes amid speculation surrounding the future of Che Adams, who is out of contract at the end of the campaign.

However, the Hampshire outfit will face competition from the likes of Fulham, Sheffield United and QPR.

Roofe has struggled for game time at Rangers since joining the club in the summer of 2020, featuring 60 times over the last four seasons (all stats from Fbref).

Southampton must look for Premier League quality players

FLW’s Southampton fan pundit Martin Sanders isn’t too keen at the prospect of replacing Adams with Roofe, having praised the impact of the Scotland international in Russell Martin’s side.

He believes the Saints should be looking for Premier League-calibre players, especially if they gain promotion back to the top flight.

“If we go back to the Premier League I think we need to be looking at Premier League strikers, really,” Sanders told Football League World.

“Che Adams has done a really good job in the Championship with Southampton, he’s pivotal to the way that they play as a team I think.

“He’d be a massive miss when he goes next season, whatever division we’re in.

“A lot of fans are not massive fans of him, but I think he’s brilliant and really important for Saints.

“I’d say Ross Stewart is the future, that’s what they bought him for.

“I would say that just the [links to the] Rangers attacker is just maybe a bit of speculation, whether there’s anything concrete to it I’m not convinced there will be.”

Kemar Roofe’s Rangers contract

Roofe previously played in English football for the likes of Leeds United and Oxford United, where he competed in the Championship and League Two.

He helped Rangers secure a first league title in a decade in 2021 under Steven Gerrard, but has struggled for consistent minutes under the likes of Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Michael Beale.

Injuries have not helped his time at Ibrox either, so perhaps a parting of ways this summer may be the best for all parties.

Roofe’s contract expires at the end of the season, so he will be available as a free agent.

Roofe would be an underwhelming addition at Southampton

Roofe would provide experience and could be a solid cover option for Southampton at an affordable price.

However, it wouldn’t be the most exciting signing for supporters and there are surely better uses of resources available.

The Saints have Stewart and Adam Armstrong available in their squad even if Adams leaves, so it’s not an area that will be significantly weakened by his departure.

If the club gains promotion to the Premier League then they should be targeting top flight quality players, and there is little evidence that Roofe could tick that box at this stage of his career.