Martin must axe Southampton man who earns more than Sugawara & Brereton.
Even with five games remaining in the Premier League season, Southampton fans may be growing a bit impatient with their team’s prospects of avoiding relegation.
Although Russell Martin’s Saints have yet to win in the challenging level, things could have been quite different the previous weekend when Tyler Dibling, a talented young player from Southampton, opened the score against Ipswich Town, another team that is in danger of relegation.
But Sam Morsy for the opposition would have other ideas in the closing moments, landing a sucker punch to deprive Martin’s team the elusive three points.
Jack Stephens truly suffered defensively against Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils, but at least the South Coast team managed to draw this match. A recent 3-0 loss to Manchester United at St Mary’s is still a painful result to swallow.
Stephens’ performances this season
Despite being regarded as a valued employee at Southampton and having played in 185 games for the team while wearing the captain’s armband, Stephens hasn’t been able to adjust to the increased level of difficulty thus far.
He performed appallingly against Man United, and in the end of the one-sided match, the 30-year-old was sent off after making an ill-advised tackle that halted Alejandro Garnacho in his tracks.
After an early loss, Daily Mail writer Nathan Salt gave Stephens a 3/10 match rating. The mediocre centre back did not contribute to his team’s performance after being sent off, and Garnacho eventually scored a late goal to make it 3-0 for the day.
The dismissal against United has at least given Martin some food for thought as to who could replace the Saints captain going forward. Stephens’ team struggled at Brentford the game before, winning only one battle out of five attempts as Thomas Frank’s Brentford defeated Stephens’ team 3-1.
In Stephens’ place against Ipswich, Tyler Harwood-Bellis entered the game and performed admirably, totalling 50 accurate passes while playing defence. However, the 30-year-old is now concerned about his future in the starting lineup for the Saints.
Stephens’ wage at Southampton
The defender’s exorbitant salary doesn’t help either; according to Capology, Stephens earns more in the current Saints camp than Ben Brereton-Diaz and Yukinari Sugawara combined, despite the two players coming as risky additions only this summer.
Sugawara has also adapted to Southampton with ease thus far; his goal against Brentford ended his team’s goal-scoring drought in the premier league. Despite this, he still finds that his weekly income is lower than Stephens’.
According to Capology, Stephens earns £45k-per-week compared to the Japanese gem’s £40k-per-week income, with Ben Brereton-Diaz earning even less than the new standout Saints defender himsef at £35k-per-week.
| Top five highest earners at Southampton – 24/25 | |
|---|---|
| 1. Aaron Ramsdale | £120k-per-week |
| 2. Joe Aribo | £70k-per-week |
| 3. Maxwel Cornet | £65k-per-week |
| 4. Adam Armstrong | £60k-per-week |
| 5. Jan Bednarek | £60k-per-week |
| Sourced by Capology | |
Stephens is just £15k a week away from breaking into Southampton’s top five earnings, but his recent suspension has shown that his exorbitant salary may not be justified.
Brereton-Diaz, a former Sheffield United player who scored six goals for the Blades in the league last season, will be looked upon if the Saints are to move past Stephens’ problems going forward.
Coming back to Stephens, though, Martin needs to have an open discussion with the seasoned defender regarding his future on the South Coast since his current contract with the Premier League team expires in the summer.
He might still be crucial this season as Southampton looks to survive in the difficult league, but after his disastrous showing against Manchester United, his performances will need to significantly improve.
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