Southampton FC have struck gold with player Robbie Keane called 'unbelievable' | OneFootball

Daniel Peretz has been sensational since arriving at Southampton on loan from Bayern Munich in January

After an underwhelming start to the season, Southampton have rescued their campaign by firing themselves into play-off contention in the final phase of the campaign, with Tonda Eckert's big decisions in the transfer market paying dividends.

Southampton began this season just as they finished the last, having been relegated from the Premier League last time out and continuing their struggles heading into the Championship.

This was despite a big summer rebuild both on and off the pitch, with Will Still replacing Ivan Juric in the St Mary's dugout, as well as the likes of Tyler Dibling, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Paul Onuachu, and Mateus Fernandes all leaving the club.

A 2-1 win over Wrexham on the opening day was far from convincing, and so it proved to be, with Still dismissed after just 16 games, and replaced by German boss Tonda Eckert, who has helped to transform the Saints' fortunes.

Eckert made some key moves in the January transfer window, which have helped to catapult the side up the division, and none have arguably been more important than the decision to change goalkeepers midway through the season.

Daniel Peretz arrived at Southampton on loan from Bayern Munich in January as Gavin Bazunu exited for Stoke City

The January window, as it does with every club, provided Southampton with the chance to improve areas of weakness, and nowhere evidently needed an upgrade more than in between the sticks.

Irish shot-stopper Gavin Bazunu had remained as Eckert's preferred choice ahead of Alex McCarthy after he took charge, but his displays between the sticks quickly made it apparent that a change needed to be made in January if Southampton were realistically going to push for the play-offs this season.

According to FotMob, Bazunu has let in 6.4 more goals than expected this season, ahead of only West Bromwich Albion's Josh Griffiths and Sheffield United's Michael Cooper, with both club and player evidently needing a fresh start.

Stoke City came calling, with Viktor Johansson sustaining a long-term injury, Bazunu headed to the Potteries, as Israeli goalkeeper Daniel Peretz joined from Bayern Munich on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

Peretz had struggled to stake a claim on loan at Hamburg in the first half of the season, and subsequently returned to Bayern before making the move to the English South Coast this winter.

During his time with Maccabi Tel Aviv, former Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool striker Robbie Keane, who was the club's head coach at the time, described the 25-year-old as "unbelievable" ahead of his £4.3 million move to Germany in 2023.

Though few knew what to expect from the Israeli upon his arrival, given that he had barely featured since his move to Germany, and just three months later, he has helped to transform the club's fortunes.

Peretz, according to FotMob, has prevented 4.33 goals since he arrived at Southampton, firmly putting him among the best goalkeepers statistically in the division, playing a crucial role in the club's rise up the table, as well as success in the FA Cup against both Premier League Fulham and Arsenal.

In any instance, Southampton will almost certainly activate his £7 million buy clause in the deal which saw him join on loan in January, with Peretz clearly ready to either make the step-up to the Premier League or remain as one of the best keepers in the EFL next year, as the Saints have struck gold with this deal.

Tonda Eckert must be lauded for his brave decision to sign Daniel Peretz as a replacement for Gavin Bazunu

Eckert's decision to allow Bazunu to leave in January was hardly surprising given how the Irishman fared in the first half of the campaign, but the German's decision to bring in Peretz and instantly make him the club's number one has been a stroke of genius.

Since joining Bayern in the summer of 2023, Peretz had made just four league appearances for the Bavarian giants, and none on loan at Hamburg, so it would be to suggest that it was considered a risk throwing him straight in at the deep end of the Championship.

However, the 25-year-old has thrived under the circumstances, and should Southampton achieve an immediate return to the top flight, his arrival will be a key factor to that success.

The Saints will have to go the long way through the play-off's if they want top-flight football once again, but with Peretz in goal, there's no reason to doubt their chances.