Downes had a successful spell at Southampton, where he played under Martin, and also had a notable stint at Swansea earlier in his career. With Southampton set to receive a significant influx of funds following a recent takeover, it's possible that Downes could be on the move to the Scottish Premiership.

The takeover, led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises, is expected to inject £20-30 million into the club's transfer market, giving Martin the opportunity to make some big signings despite being in the job for just over a week.

However, Southampton are likely to demand a significant fee for Downes, estimated to be around £10 million, which could be a substantial portion of Martin's transfer budget. The club will need to be wise in their spending if they want to catch up with Celtic, who dominated the Scottish Premiership last season.

Downes has made 66 appearances for Southampton over two seasons, including four times as captain, and has the potential to become a key player in Scotland if the move goes ahead. Southampton, though, are keen to keep him as he's an important part of the squad and could help the team regain Premier League status next season.