Despite already signing a new centre-back this season, it appears Southampton aren’t done bolstering the centre of their defence, perhaps as they brace themselves for the exit of a certain Virgil Van Dijk.
According to FootMercato in France, via their journalist Dahbia Hattabi, the Saints, alongside Leicester City and Inter in Italy, are keeping an eye on the situation of Valencia’s Aymen Abdennour.
Leicester, Southampton et l’Inter ont un oeil sur Aymen Abdennour (Valence). Mais aucune offre concrète pour le moment.
— Dahbia Hattabi (@DahbiaHattabi) 17 July 2017
Despite the 27-year-old being linked multiple times with a move to the Premier League over the past year, with Everton said to be close to a deal last summer, the Tunisia international ended up staying an extra season in Spain, making just 14 appearances over the campaign.
An exit from the club seems inevitable at some stage, and with now two English sides after him, perhaps this time will be the right one.
Much like the aforementioned situation over at St Mary’s, Leicester aren’t exactly desperate for a new defender, but with Robert Huth, Wes Morgan and Yohan Benalouane all on the wrong side of 30, fresh blood at the back could be needed as Craig Shakespeare is likely to target a top-half finish next season.
However, there is little chance of Abdennour arriving on the cheap, as he has three years left on his contract and Valencia paid over £18m for him just two summers ago.
The price tag last year was estimated at around €18m (just under £16m), and you would think somewhere around £14-15m would do the trick this year.
No offers have arrived yet, but if they do, we’ll keep you in the loop.
