Southampton are looking to earn promotion from the EFL Championship this campaign and now appear to be advancing in pursuit of an international playmaker, according to a report.
Southampton look to kick on after dramatic victory over Wrexham
Will Still looked to be heading towards defeat on matchday one of the league campaign, but Ryan Manning’s free-kick and Jack Stephens’ late winner put the seal on a dramatic 2-1 victory over Wrexham at St Mary’s Stadium last weekend.
Speaking after the match, the former RC Lens boss praised his side for their ‘grit’ shown against the Welsh outfit as they turned the tide in stunning fashion.
He explained: “We were a bit unsure of where the game was going but we got back in control of it, created a few big opportunities, then in the second half, I thought we just took control.
“Playing against a really well organised low block is probably the most difficult thing to do. Credit to everyone for sticking at it, and it’s good to show a bit of grit and determination.”
Moving forward, Southampton could replace seemingly Everton-bound Tyler Dibling with Tom Fellows if they can meet West Bromwich Albion’s £10 million price-tag for the exciting winger before the close of play.
Dibling could be set to net Saints a fee in the region of £40 million, signifying that plenty of money will be left over to be ploughed back into the playing squad.
Southampton’s next five fixtures in all competitions
Northampton Town (A)
EFL Cup
Ipswich Town (A)
EFL Championship
Stoke City (H)
EFL Championship
Watford (A)
EFL Championship
Portsmouth (H)
EFL Championship
Volendam defender Xavier Mbuyamba is also wanted by Southampton, even if the likes of Genk and Rangers are also sniffing around due to his cheap asking price of £434,000.
Now, details have emerged suggesting that Still could be close to tempting a talented star to join his quest to restore Saints as a top-flight club on the South Coast.
Southampton offer preliminary contract to Eduard Spertsyan
According to Telecomasia.net, Southampton have offered a preliminary contract to Krasnodar star Eduard Spertsyan and negotiations are advanced over the Armenia star potentially moving to St Mary’s.
Still wants him to be a key figure in his side, though the 24-year-old is yet to give a final answer on coming to England a year after the ex-RC Lens boss tried to recruit him in France.
Deemed similar to Barcelona star Dani Olmo by scout Jacek Kulig, Spertsyan is a Krasnodar academy product and has made 149 appearances for the Russian top-flight outfit, registering 45 goals and 35 assists.
Potentially, the Stavropol-born man could be an alternative to Fellows as a Dibling replacement, given he can operate either as an attacking midfielder or on either flank.
With one year left on his contract, there is potential for Southampton to bring in Spertsyan for an affordable fee if all parties can come to an agreement in the coming weeks.