How much money Damion Downs earns at Southampton as "top level contract" claim made | OneFootball

Damion Downs' Southampton contract could be a stumbling block in the way of a January move.

Southampton's Damion Downs has been linked with a move away from St Mary's in January - just a few months after his arrival.

The centre-forward joined the Saints in the summer, arriving from FC Köln, who had achieved promotion back to the Bundesliga after a year away.

And now, Downs is reportedly keen on a loan switch in January to keep his World Cup chances alive for the United States.

Köln's fellow promoted outfit, Hamburg, are interested in securing the American's signature as per reports from Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Germany.

German outlet Kicker revealed on Monday that Downs had emerged as a target for HSV as they look to replace Yussuf Poulsen, who could be out until after the winter break due to injury.

Though the recent update from Plettenberg outlined that Downs has a "top level contract" at Southampton - something that could be a stumbling block when it comes to a potential move.

How much money Damion Downs earns at Southampton - it could be a stumbling block

Making the switch from Köln over the summer, Downs put pen to paper on a four-year deal on the South Coast that Capology estimates to be worth £12,500 per week, or £2.6 million per year.

And while the figures are relatively low among both the Southampton and Hamburg squads, the length of the ongoing deal could be an issue.

After a slow start to their first Bundesliga campaign in eight years, Hamburg have risen to 13th, five points clear of the relegation play-off spot.

Home draws against Borussia Dortmund have sandwiched a massive win on their own turf against Stuttgart, and a sensational derby triumph over Werder Bremen. And when it comes to strengthening up top in January, HSV are mainly in the market for a short-term solution.

While Poulsen is not expected to return immediately after the break ends in January, Merlin Polzin has both Ransford Königsdörffer and Robert Glatzel to call upon in the meantime.

Unless Downs were to arrive and become an absolute hit for the Red Shorts, it is unlikely that he would be a long-term solution for the club. And with a deal penned until 2029 at Southampton, they could find themselves back at square one in the summer.

Southampton may have been the wrong move for Damion Downs

The simple fact of the matter is that Downs has failed to hit the ground running in a Southampton shirt, with the striker failing to find the back of the net across 11 Championship appearances.

Although the question remains whether Southampton was the right move in the first place, given that the 21-year-old would be competing with one of the Championship's finest marksmen, Adam Armstrong.

Downs netted 10 times in the 2. Bundesliga as Köln secured their pathway back to the top flight, and while their form has dipped as of late, a bright start for Lukas Kwasniok's side leaves them 11th heading into the winter break, with the Billy Goats looking a completely different side from the one relegated in 2024.

Southampton entered the current term as one of the promotion favourites following their relegation from the Premier League, and the level of expectation was always going to be higher.

The chance to stay with one of Germany's traditional giants while they find their feet back in the top flight could have opened more doors and been better for his development ahead of the USA's home World Cup next summer.