Luton Town are reportedly among a host of English clubs interested in signing Southampton midfielder William Smallbone, with Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth also keen on the player.
The 23-year-old featured heavily in the Championship whilst on loan at Stoke City last season, starting 38 second-tier matches and providing eight goal contributions.
Although the Potters were unable to push for the playoffs under Alex Neil in 2022-23, Smallbone impressed in a side which recorded some notable victories - none more so than their 5-1 success at Sunderland in March.
The last campaign was also a significant one for the Saints man on the international stage, with the midfielder making his debut for the Republic of Ireland's senior team in a friendly win over Latvia in March.
According to the Daily Mail, Luton, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth make up the Premier League contingent who are interested in bringing Smallbone into their respective squads ahead of the upcoming season.
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After proving his capabilities in the Championship at Stoke, it is understood that the midfielder has also attracted interest from second-tier outfits Blackburn Rovers, Hull City and the aforementioned Sunderland.
Southampton head coach Russell Martin recently took the reins at St Mary's following the club's relegation from the Premier League, and the former Swansea City boss is a huge admirer of the Irishman.
The 37-year-old attempted to bring Smallbone to South Wales when he was in charge of the Swans, and he has described the player as 'like a new signing' for the recently-relegated Saints.
With just one year left on his current terms on the South coast, there are a host of teams who are closely monitoring Smallbone's situation at Southampton in this summer transfer window.
One of those sides is Luton, with Rob Edwards looking to bolster his midfield ranks with the ambition of successfully guiding the Hatters through their first-ever campaign in the Premier League without relegation.
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Mads Andersen, Issa Kabore and Ryan Giles have all been signed to increase the quality of Luton's backline, however Marvelous Nakamba is the only engine-room option to come through the Kenilworth Road door so far.
Due to Smallbone's contract situation, this summer represents the final genuine opportunity for Southampton to cash in on a player who graduated from their highly-rated academy in June 2019.
With only 16 Premier League starts to his name, the Irishman would not bring a wealth of top-flight experience to the Hatters, however the Luton have focused more on recruiting young talent with the potential to become stars in England's elite division.
Tahith Chong and Chiedozie Ogbene have also joined Edwards's squad from Birmingham City and Rotherham United respectively this summer - Luton will be hoping both can adapt quickly to the demands of the Premier League.
Carter White
