Sport Republic took huge Adam Armstrong transfer gamble at Southampton FC - it could pay off | OneFootball

Selling Adam Armstrong on deadline day may have proven to backfire for Southampton, but two weeks on, things are going okay

Selling your top scorer on Deadline Day and replacing him with a striker who had scored once throughout the campaign so far was a risky move, but two weeks on from the window closing, Southampton aren't ruing that gamble.

Adam Armstrong, one of the most prolific strikers the Championship has seen in the last five seasons or so, had 15 goal contributions throughout 29 games in the first half of the campaign at St Mary's.

It may not have been shaping up to equal the 21-goal, 13-assist campaign he displayed the last time Southampton were in the Championship, but his 11 goals had him among the league's top scorers, and if the Saints were to mount a play-off charge in the latter stages of the season, many expected that he'd be the focal point of it.

It wasn't to be, though, as Southampton accepted a bid that could rise to £9 million from the Premier League's basement side, Wolverhampton Wanderers, who look destined for a Championship return this season, anyway.

It was a bit of a head-scratching decision, especially given that Cyle Larin, someone who turns 31 by the end of the season, was the chosen replacement, following a dud spell at Feynoord, where he was largely unfavoured and netted once in 15 games.

However, he's already surpassed that goal tally in three games on the South Coast, and many are starting to believe that this risk is somehow paying off.

Cyle Larin is exceeding expectations at Southampton

Many thought that a sale of Armstrong would start a domino effect that would see an exciting young prospect come in ready to hit the ground running and fill the goalscoring hole left by the 28-year-old.

Instead, Larin, who is two years older than Wolves' new frontman and had never played in England before, was brought in on loan with an option to buy from Spanish side Mallorca.

Armstrong's goals may have dried up slightly in the months preceding his move, having not scored since December 9th, but even then, critics believed that he'd get over the current slump and start firing the Saints towards the top six.

It was seen as a pointless move. Wolves are expected to be in the Championship next season, anyway, and in replacing someone with 91 second-tier goals in his career for someone who hasn't played English football, Southampton were seen to be throwing away any outside chances they had at a top-six finish upon their return to the division.

That couldn't be further from the truth, though. Larin is exceeding expectations so far, netting the only goal of the game on his debut off the bench against Watford, before then also scoring on his FA Cup debut, and his first Saints start, in the extra-time win over Leicester City last weekend.

Granted, it has only been around 120 minutes of action, but as far as first impressions go, the Canadian frontman has done his best to endear himself to the Southampton fans with goals.

There are large Armstrong-sized shoes to fill up top at St Mary's, and Larin is doing a good enough job so far at filling them.

Southampton have the momentum in the ongoing play-off push — Cyle Larin can be a big part of it

The race for sixth place looks like it's going to go down to the wire once more in the Championship, and heading into the final 14 games, Southampton has the wind in its sails.

Four wins on the bounce in all competitions, plus the momentum that gets generated from a run to the fifth round of the FA Cup, have Tonda Eckert's side two points off Derby County in sixth and in good form.

A lot could change between now and the end of the campaign, but Saints fans will be hoping that Larin's goal involvements continue, whether they be leading from the off or in impact bursts off the bench, as they both seem to be yielding good results.

When Southampton were promoted via the play-offs in the 2023/24 campaign, Armstrong was the hero, not only during the regular season, but with three goals in the play-offs, too.

There needs to be a new hero following the 28-year-old's departure on Deadline Day, but as it stands, Larin looks primed and ready to be just that.