Why Southampton should return for Kamil Jozwiak next summer
Back in August, a report from Futbolnews.pl (h/t Derbyshire Live) had mentioned Southampton among the potential suitors for Polish winger Kamil Jozwiak, who was plying his trade with Lech Poznan in his homeland back then.
German outfit Werder Bremen and Turkish giants Galatasaray had also been linked with the 22-year-old but he eventually ended up completing a move to Derby County in the EFL Championship.
Profile
A youth exponent of Lech Poznan, Kamil Jozwiak made his first-team breakthrough in the Polish Ekstraklasa during the 2015-16 season. He spent time on loan at GKS Katowice in the second-tier in the following campaign before establishing himself in a prominent role at his boyhood club.
Jozwiak enjoyed an impressive 2019-20 campaign, registering 9 goals and 7 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions as Lech Poznan finished runners-up in the Polish top-flight. The winger’s exploits earned him his senior international debut for Poland in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Slovenia back in November.
The 22-year-old was snapped up by Derby County this past summer but has struggled to make a big impact for a struggling Rams side in the Championship. Jozwiak has managed just a single assist in 11 league appearances in the English second-tier this season so far.
Jozwiak would be an exciting addition to the Saints’ attack
Southampton roped in former academy graduate Theo Walcott on a season-long loan deal from Everton to bolster their attack in the summer. The 31-year-old has proved to be a smart addition to the club’s forward line, providing some much-needed depth and experience to a rather youthful attacking cavalry at St. Mary’s.
Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong have been among the mainstays for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side down the flanks over the past 12 months while youngster Moussa Djenepo has also progressed by leaps and bounds. However, with Walcott’s long-term future still unclear as he is only on loan, the Saints should surely look to bring in another specialist wide attacker in the summer.
Southampton should make a renewed attempt to sign Kamil Jozwiak at the end of the season. The Saints have roped in some quality young players like Mohammed Salisu, Ibrahima Diallo, Kyle Walker-Peters Djenepo and Che Adams since the appointment of Hasenhuttl and a potential deal for the Pole would represent yet another coup.
The 22-year-old has struggled to deliver on his potential in the Championship but it’s worth noting that things have gone horribly wrong for Derby County. Jozwiak’s impressive returns at Lech Poznan in his homeland clearly underlines his pedigree as a winger and his inclusion in the mix would undoubtedly add more firepower to Southampton’s attack.
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Verdict
Kamil Jozwiak is hardly the finished article just yet but at 22, he still has a lot of time to make significant improvements to his game. The Poland international perfectly fits Southampton’s transfer model of bringing in talented young players with room for development. Having said that, the Saints going back in the market for the highly-rated winger would definitely make a lot of sense.
