Southampton should sell Mubama in January, with the ideal replacement already identified.

Southampton could be forced to make an important decision regarding their attacking options when the January transfer window opens, with Divin Mubama struggling to make the desired impression during his loan spell at St Mary’s.

The Saints have enjoyed a promising start to the 2026-27 Championship campaign, and their position in the table suggests they are serious contenders for promotion. After 14 league matchweeks, Southampton would be sitting at the top of the standings without the four-point deduction imposed on them.

Tonda Eckert’s team have continued the momentum they established towards the end of last season. They have looked particularly impressive on home soil, although their away performances remain an area that needs attention. Both of their league defeats have come on the road against Watford and Wrexham.

The Championship is once again proving extremely competitive, with only six points separating leaders Middlesbrough from Portsmouth in 10th place. The expanded play-off system also means that finishing eighth could be enough to secure a place in the promotion race.

Despite the competition, Southampton have demonstrated that they possess the quality to challenge near the top of the division.

Southampton Have Few Weaknesses in Their Starting XI

Looking at the overall statistics, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that the Saints have one of the strongest squads in the Championship.

They currently share the division’s best goal difference of 15 with West Ham, while only Middlesbrough and the Hammers have scored more than their 29 goals.

Their defensive record has also been impressive. Southampton have conceded just 14 goals, with only Birmingham City managing a better total. Their performances at the back have improved considerably since the most recent international break.

However, although Eckert appears to have a strong first-choice team, the situation becomes less convincing when considering the players available from the bench.

Southampton are relatively well covered in most defensive positions, although there are still questions about the quality of the alternative options available behind James Bree.

Central midfield is another area where the club have considerable strength, particularly when all four options are available. James Ward-Prowse, Caspar Jander, Flynn Downes and Cameron Bragg provide Eckert with several possibilities in that department.

The biggest concern appears to be the attacking depth, especially when injuries affect the preferred forward line.

Mubama Is Struggling to Make an Impression

When everyone is available, Southampton’s attacking options are relatively straightforward. Leo Scienza, Finn Azaz, Kuryu Matsuki and Cyle Larin have established themselves as important members of the attacking setup.

However, Larin’s recent absence through injury has forced Eckert to consider alternative solutions in the centre-forward position.

Southampton have actually managed to maintain their attacking threat despite losing their leading goalscorer. They have scored eight goals across the three matches in which Larin has been unavailable.

Nevertheless, Divin Mubama has struggled to convince that he can provide the necessary quality when the Canadian striker is missing.

The Manchester City loanee has found opportunities difficult to come by since arriving at St Mary’s. His limited involvement has raised questions about whether he is capable of making a meaningful contribution to Southampton’s promotion ambitions.

His Championship statistics highlight the problem.

Although Mubama has featured in 12 league matches, he has started only once and accumulated just 205 minutes.

Eckert gave the youngster his first Championship start of the campaign during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion. However, the performance did little to suggest that he is ready to become a regular starter.

The German manager appears to have preferred using him as a late substitute for much of the season.

More importantly, Mubama has not produced the same influence that Larin has offered when leading the attack. Lewis Dobbin has also made a stronger impression more recently when given opportunities through the middle.

Southampton need reliable alternatives capable of maintaining their attacking standards whenever their preferred striker is unavailable. At present, Mubama does not appear to have established himself as that solution.

January Could Provide the Perfect Opportunity for Change

Southampton may therefore need to reconsider their arrangement with Manchester City when the January transfer window arrives.

During the first half of 2026, Eckert had several dependable options available from the substitutes’ bench. Players such as Shea Charles and Ross Stewart provided valuable alternatives and helped the manager maintain the team’s overall quality.

The current situation looks somewhat different, particularly in the centre-forward position.

Mubama has not demonstrated the same level of effectiveness that Stewart offered during the previous campaign. His limited playing time also suggests that he has yet to convince Eckert that he deserves a more important role.

For a young striker hoping to develop, spending most matches watching from the bench is hardly an ideal situation.

Manchester City will also want their loanee to receive regular opportunities to improve. The purpose of sending him to Southampton is to help him gain valuable first-team experience, and his current involvement does not appear to be delivering that consistently.

Consequently, terminating the loan agreement early could become a sensible option for all parties if his situation does not improve over the next two months.

Southampton would then have the opportunity to bring in a forward capable of offering greater competition and providing immediate assistance during the second half of the season.

Saints Cannot Afford to Ignore Their Squad Depth

The club’s promotion ambitions mean that every position needs to be carefully considered. Having an excellent starting XI is important, but the ability to replace injured or unavailable players without suffering a significant drop in quality could ultimately determine their success.

Larin’s recent absence has exposed a potential weakness that Southampton cannot afford to overlook.

Mubama still has time to change the situation and demonstrate that he deserves a longer opportunity at St Mary’s. However, if his performances and involvement remain unchanged, the January window could provide an opportunity to find a more effective alternative.

Southampton have already shown that they possess the attacking quality to compete with the strongest sides in the Championship.

The next challenge is ensuring that their substitutes can maintain those standards throughout a demanding promotion campaign.

With January approaching, Eckert must decide whether to continue giving Mubama opportunities or end his loan spell and bring in a striker capable of making a bigger impact.