“Russell Martin needs a winger,” Carlton Palmer says, urging Southampton to sign the former England international.
Andros Townsend, according to the commentator, would be a fantastic option for Southampton, as well as Blackburn and QPR.
It’s usual for fans to speculate about potential free agent signings long after the summer transfer season has closed.
Of course, clubs are unable to sign players until January, but when a player is unattached, they can be signed and played whenever they want – a characteristic that often appeals to teams looking for a quick fix.
Free agents are generally low-risk in the sense that they do not command a transfer price, but apparent questions will always surface when a player has been without a club for the entire summer.
Andros Townsend, for example, has not only been unattached for the summer, but he has also not played since last March due to a severe ACL injury sustained while at Everton.
Make no mistake, the ex-England international’s fall from grace has been harsh and tragic, but it hasn’t stopped Championship fans from wanting their club to take what they feel to be a good risk.
Pundit Carlton Palmer is of the same mind, and has pushed three second-tier suitors to take a chance on Townsend after he failed to clinch a contract with Vincent Kompany’s Burnley.
What has Carlton Palmer said about prospective Championship interest in Andors Townsend?
“Andros Townsend has had a very frustrating eighteen months to two years in his footballing career, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at Everton where his contract was abruptly torn up,” Palmer remarked exclusively to Football League World.
“He then trained with newly-promoted Burnley in pre-season, where he impressed and it was thought he would be offered a contract; he was even looking at houses and schools for his young daughter, only for a contract to fall through.”
“Two additional deals fell through with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, leaving him a free agent.”
“I don’t think he’ll get a Premier League club, but at 32, he’d be a good acquisition for a Championship club.”
“Three clubs come to mind: QPR, Southampton, and Blackburn.”
“He has a wealth of experience, and as long as his knee holds up – and there is no reason to believe otherwise given that he played several pre-season games for Burnley – the only stumbling block for Blackburn and QPR could be his salary, so Southampton could be the one.”
“Russell Martin needs a winger and one that can score goals, and Andros Townsend fits that bill.”
Should QPR, Southampton, or Blackburn make an attempt to recruit Andros Townsend?
The winger might still be a force in the Championship, but clubs should not put all their expectations in him.
Instead of throwing him in the deep end or having expectations based on his pedigree rather than the reality of the situation, any team that signs him must be informed and understanding with his injury issues and the time it may take him to fully recover.
Having said that, he might provide spark and ingenuity to Southampton’s attack.
Whereas the Saints have encountered much of their challenges on the other end of the field, Townsend’s presence on and off the field would be beneficial, while adding him would just prevent a prospective promotion opponent from doing the same and strengthening instead.
Palmer is correct in claiming that QPR and Blackburn may struggle to satisfy his financial demands, but that, along with what you can only imagine the player’s ambitions to be, makes it difficult to envision him at any other club than one solidly in the promotion pack.
Southampton will need to sort it out and realize their potential sooner rather than later if they want to sign Townsend this season.
