We’ve all seen disastrous loan spells down the years, and Damion Downs’ move from Southampton to HSV Hamburg falls into that category.
BILD report on the Southampton striker today and it’s not good. The newspaper explains that criticism for the striker has gotten so bad, his manager ‘can’t use him anymore’.
Bundesliga struggles
The 21-year-old moved on loan to Hamburg in the January transfer window after a miserable few months at Southampton.
He had joined Southampton for €8m last summer but managed just one assist in 14 games for the Saints before departing.
The hope was to kick on at Hamburg, but that hasn’t happened. He’s failed to score or assist in nine games to date, and manager just 506 minutes in total.
BILD report that the criticism has been plentiful. In fact, the Southampton loanee has ‘faced such intense criticism’ that the manager would now find it ‘extremely difficult’ to field him at all. That’s despite the German side’s current issues up front.
Southampton return
All indications are, then, that Damion Downs facing a frustrating end to the season. His performances at Hamburg have seemingly turned their fans completely against him.
That will surely mean he heads back to Southampton in the summer as well. Hamburg certainly won’t be looking at a permanent deal.
But then what? Southampton have very much moved on without him. They’ve now Cyle Larin banging in the goals and reviving his career at St. Mary’s. That will surely close the door on a return for Downs.
But he cost €8m last summer and getting that back this summer will be a difficult task, to say the least. This loan in Germany was supposed to get him back n track. Instead, it appears he’s not even on the track anymore, so much so that his manager won’t even turn to him in the middle of a crisis.
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