Celtic pair given Brendan Rodgers permission to quit the club and play regular football elsewhere.

Russell Martin’s Rangers Emerge as Strong Contenders for Xavier Mbuyamba, Leaving Southampton Hoping for a Miracle

Rangers boss Russell Martin has reportedly entered the race to sign Xavier Mbuyamba, dealing a potential blow to Southampton’s hopes of landing the talented centre-back.

The 23-year-old defender, previously called up to Chelsea’s first team under Thomas Tuchel, was recently linked with a move to St. Mary’s, a prospect that excited Saints supporters — especially in light of the club’s defensive frailties shown in their recent friendly.

Southampton see Mbuyamba as a perfect solution at the back, but they now face stiff competition from both Watford and Rangers, who recently joined the hunt. According to Fabrizio Romano, Rangers and Belgian side Gent are tracking the FC Volendam standout.

Russell Martin a Familiar Obstacle for Southampton

Former Saints manager Russell Martin is once again proving a thorn in Southampton’s side, having rivaled his old club for several targets already this summer. This time, he’s reportedly pushing hard to bring Mbuyamba to Ibrox, where the allure of European football could tilt the deal in Rangers’ favor.

Understandably, this news won’t sit well with Saints fans, but some may find comfort in a recent similar scenario involving Max Johnston. Both Southampton and Lens were hot on the trail of the young defender, but neither managed to sign him. Saints supporters can only hope this situation follows a similar trajectory — and that Mbuyamba slips through Rangers’ grasp as well.

Southampton Running Out of Options

The reality for Southampton is grim: they appear to be running out of viable alternatives and may have to watch as a player with major potential chooses Rangers over them. With European competition and a well-regarded manager in Martin, the Glasgow side currently holds the advantage.

For now, it seems the Saints can do little more than hope Martin doesn’t seal the deal. But unless something changes quickly, this could be another high-profile target slipping through Southampton’s fingers.