It’s a risk to replace your top scorer with a man who has never played in English football, even if he’s better suited to Tonda Eckert’s style.
Armstrong has a good track record in the Championship, and while he is out of form, so too is Larin. He arrives at St Mary’s following a tricky loan spell in the Netherlands, where he scored once in 15 games at Feyenoord.
A tricky loan spell does not mean Larin is a bad player, either. The Mallorca striker has a good record in La Liga, Turkish Super Lig and the MLS.
Canada international Cyle Larin has joined Saints on loan, with an option to buy. (Image: Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Standing at six-foot-two-inches tall, Larin will, at the very least, allow Eckert to lean on a more direct play-style, even when Ross Stewart is not fit.
And as the Scot demonstrated against Sheffield United and Stoke City, there is more to that role than just scoring goals.
During the 2024/25 La Liga season, in which Larin scored seven times, the Canadian averaged 3.5 headers per 90 minutes, with a 43.6 per cent win rate.
Che Adams (Serie A) vs Cyle Larin (La Liga) 24/25 season: #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/6IfjEqsBVs
— Just Saints (@JustSaints_) February 1, 2026
He also likes to drop deep to hold up the ball as teammates run beyond. “I love playing with the ball,” he said upon joining Feyenoord.
“I can play up front or in the number 10, it depends on where I’m supposed to be on the pitch. I’m patient. You have to be patient and wait for your chance in the game.”
In the Netherlands, Larin found himself in deep positions or out wide more often. He can be a frustrating player when he comes to receive the ball.
While he can hold off defenders with his size, his first touch is not the greatest. He does have some pace, but he is not nimble, which is to be expected.
Map of Cyle Larin’s actions against Real Betis in January. (Image: Wyscout)
In the La Liga last season, he averaged 0.9 shots created and 0.9 progressive passes per 90 minutes. His numbers are not dissimilar to Stewart’s (0.7 shot assists p90).
With creative hubs like Leo Scienza and Finn Azaz in the side, Saints need a striker who will take their opportunities in front of goal.
Larin’s finishing from this season does not inspire confidence. His only goal, scored against Panathinaikos, saw him kick the ball onto his ankle before scooping past the keeper.
Cyle Larin gets into space to receive a low ball across the box. (Image: Wyscout)
Cyle Larin kicks the ball into his standing foot yards out from the goal. (Image: Wyscout)
He looks like a player in need of a bit of confidence. Eckert needs to help him return to the form he showed at Mallorca last season.
Against Real Betis, his final game for Feyenoord, Larin squandered three good chances. On two occasions, his touch let him down – the other was sent straight at the goalkeeper.
What cannot be faulted, though, is his off-the-ball movement, which is a standout trait across the clips we have observed.
Cyle Larin makes a good run off the ball to get a chance eight yards out. (Image: Wyscout)
Cyle Larin’s first-touch lets him down and the keeper is able to stop the chance. (Image: Wyscout)
In recent years, Larin has not been the most clinical finisher. Across his two and a half seasons in La Liga, he scored 18 times from an expected goals of 24.29.
Only three of those were headers. A goal scored against Girona last season is the best example of what he can do when dropping deep.
Having received the ball on the halfway line, he held off a challenge and drove forward to play a one-two. He then outmuscled Oriol Romeu before powering the ball home.
Cyle Larin picks the ball up on the wing, drives at the defence, and plays a one-two. (Image: Wyscout)
Cyle Larin holds off the challenge of Oriol Romeu to get a shot off. (Image: Wyscout)
Cyle Larin fires a low shot into the far bottom corner. (Image: Wyscout)
In the same game, he scored a winner when pressing the goalkeeper in his six-yard box. His effort off the ball is another desirable trait for Saints.
Southampton have rolled the dice on Larin’s suitability to the system being enough to offset the loss of proven goalscorer Armstrong.
It is a risky move when the financial rewards of promotion to the Premier League far outweigh the fee raised and the money saved by this swap.
If Larin hits the ground running, the risk will have been worth it. If he does not, through little fault of the striker, the club will have further eroded trust.