James Bree joins Southampton for a cut price fee

James Bree has transferred to Southampton, linking back up with Nathan Jones, for a fee reported to be in the region of £750,000. It is a good move for James Bree, who only had 4 months to run on his current Luton Town contract, having joined us permanently at the beginning of the 2020/21 season, after a loan from Aston Villa during the 2019/20 season. The right wing back, who had covered the right centre back position this season due to a defensive injury crisis has been one of the Hatters stand out players over the last three seasons as Luton Town have established themselves in the Championship, going from last day escape artists in the 2019/20 season, to Playoff semi finalists in 2021/22 season. James Bree has amassed 15 assists across his 4 years with the Hatters, and currently leads the division in big chances created, alongside Ryan Giles and John Swift (all 13). In total James Bree has created 185 chances in his 4 years for the Hatters, therefore if he gets minutes for Nathan Jones' Southampton he may provide some Fantasy Football value. Since signing for an undisclosed fee from Aston Villa it remains to be seen how much of the agreed fee goes to the Claret and Blue, however, it is a discussion point as to whether it would have been worth eating the cost of the reported £750,000 kept our leading chance creator and set piece specialist until the summer seeing if potentially we could have gotten into the playoffs again, with a chance to gain promotion to the Premier League, and then allowed Bree to leave on a free, with his stock much higher and potentially more options within the Premier League.

James Bree leaves Luton having played 143 games across his 4 seasons, and there will most likely be performance related add ons in this fee, therefore we will all be watching to see if Southampton can beat the drop this season. If not, he will certainly be welcomed back to the Kenny next season. It is reported that Cody Drameh is undertaking a medical at Kenilworth Road, with the Leeds United right back ready to replace James Bree.