If any West Ham United fans tuned in to watch his most recent outing, the claret-and-blue faithful will not be surprised in the slightest to learn that the manager who signed their £12 million man on loan last summer is now desperate to strike a permanent deal.
A playmaker, a ball-winner, a dictator and a distributor all rolled into one.
If there was a more complete midfield performance in the current Championship campaign than the one he put in during Sunday’s 2-1 win at Leeds, then answers on a postcard please.
Not that Russell Martin needed any introduction into Flynn Downes‘ talents. Martin, appointed by Southampton back in 2023, worked with Downes at Swansea City, saw him develop to such an extent that West Ham United were willing to stump up an eight-figure sum, and then jumped at the chance to sign the midfielder again when he was made available for loan.
If Martin is renowned for his heavy-possession approach, then Downes – perhaps more than anyone else in the Saints squad – epitomises the 38-year-old’s demands.
Southampton hope to keep West Ham man
Only Jan Bednarek, the centre-half, can better his 93 per cent pass accuracy. None of Southampton’s midfielders average more than his 65 passes per game (WhoScored).
And, as far as Martin is concerned, Downes is in a class of his own in England’s second tier, rating the West Ham-owned 25-year-old higher than Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Ethan Ampadu and co.
“Flynn, yeah, I told you before I think he’s the best in the league,” Martin tells the Daily Echo when asked if he’d like to retain Downes on a full-time basis.
“This team has missed him so much when he hasn’t played. We haven’t been quite able to replace him when he has not played.”
The statistics certainly bare that out. Pretty starkly too.
Southampton, finishing fourth and facing West Brom in the play-offs, lost 11 Championship games in 2023/24. Six of those came without Downes in the squad, including April’s 5-0 capitulation at Leicester City.
Julen Lopetegui may be a Flynn Downes fan
“Flynn is really important,” Martin adds, delighted to see Downes last 68 minutes at Elland Road in his first start in a number of weeks. “He got through it and now he’ll be good (for the play-offs).”
Of course, any decision over Downes’ future is West Ham’s to make. Incoming head coach Julen Lopetegui – set to replace David Moyes at the London Stadium – shares Martin’s fondness for a possession-based gameplan.
As such, he may view Downes as a key cog in a new look Hammers machine.
Edson Alvarez is more of a tackler than he is a passer. James Ward-Prowse is more effective further forward. And West Ham seem highly unlikely to pursue a permanent deal for Kalvin Phillips after the Manchester City misfits’ disastrous loan spell in the capital.