Signed from Lens last season for £15m, Loïc Badé could end up moving again just a year later if Southampton get their way.
That’s because the Saints are on the market for a new centre-back, and while there were reports they had taken an interest in Marseille’s Duje Caleta-Car, they have now seemingly moved on from the Croatian.
Their new target appears to have been Badé, as Le Parisien’s Benjamin Quarez took to Twitter to report the news.
The journalist explains Southampton ‘approached’ Rennes about their defender, but the Ligue 1 side ‘do not want to let their player go for now’.
Southampton a approché #Rennes pour Loïc Badé. Le club ne veut pas céder son défenseur pour le moment mais les discussions vont se poursuivre. Offre de prêt avec option d’achat. #mercato @leparisiensport
— Benjamin Quarez (@B_Quarez) August 31, 2022
That being said, that could change, because Quarez adds ‘talks will continue’ before detailing that the Saints’ offer was a ‘loan with an option to buy’.
The 22-year-old has only been used once by Bruno Genesio this season, in the 2-1 win over Ajaccio on August 21st, during which the France U21 international picked up an assist and a yellow card.
That will be why Southampton felt there was a deal to potentially be done, and made their offer, seeing as the manager has so far preferred the pairing of Joe Rodon and Arthur Theate at the heart of his defence.
