Southampton FC launch £6.8m bid to sign 10-goal striker | OneFootball

The Saints have made a €8 million offer for FC Koln striker Damion Downs.

Southampton have reportedly tabled an €8 million (£6.8m) bid for FC Koln frontman Damion Downs this summer.

The Saints are continuing preparations for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign under Will Still, with a number of key incomings needed to help get the club fighting towards the top end of the second tier once again.

A forward addition will be a priority given Paul Onuachu’s agreed exit to Turkish outfit Trabzonspor was confirmed by the Saints, while the South Coast club are believed to be considering offers for Adam Armstrong too.

From this, Southampton have been linked with the 20-year-old USA international Downs, who had a habit of knowing where the back of the net was last term in Germany.

Southampton linked with summer swoop for Damion Downs

As per a report from Sky Germany, Southampton are in advanced negotiations to sign FC Koln forward Damion Downs.

He has reportedly been a top target for the Saints, with the club officially submitting an €8 million to secure his services and their second arrival of the summer transfer window.

FC Koln boss Johannes Spors is pushing for him to depart due to the American only having one year remaining on his current deal.

Downs is believed to make a decision on his future following the conclusion of his international involvement.

The towering 6 ft 3 in striker enjoyed a fruitful last term with FC Koln, helping push the club back into the German top-flight. He netted 10 times as well as providing five assists in the second tier as his side won the title.

This means he has scored 13 times in 42 matches for FC Koln, averaging a goal every 164 minutes of action.

Damion Downs would add much-needed depth amid frontline exits

With Paul Onuachu departing and Adam Armstrong rumoured to leave the club, it leaves the Saints with Ross Stewart, Cameron Archer and Juan, with the latter returning from his loan stint at Goztepe.

Stewart has been far from convincing fitness-wise, and the addition of someone like Damion Downs could be what is needed to maintain the strength in the striking department.

On the rise at the age of 20, Downs is a figure who doesn’t pass up many opportunities in front of goal, already possessing an impressive goalscoring record that will continue to improve with more regular game time and experience.

With electric pace, physical prowess and clinical edge, this arrival could be exactly what Southampton need to make an instant return to the Premier League, with the €8 million bid a real example of belief and trust from the club that the American can shine at St Mary’s.