Saints Weighing Up A Bid For Portugese Central Defender
Saints seem to have a big scouting presence in Portugal and last summer went to Sporting Lisbon to sign Cedric Soares and it seems they could return for one of his former team mates.
Saints are short in the centre of defence, despite another great season from Jose Fonte and the arrival of Virgil Van Dijk, they are very conscious that the back up for them is weak.
Therefore they have been quietly weighing up back ups and a potential replacement for Jose Fonte as age catches up with him.
Therefore they have spent a lot of time in Portugal of late and the man they have been watching is Ruben Semedo of Sporting Lisbon.
Semedo has just turned 22 and seems to be something of a late developer having only broken into the Sporting first team squad this season, however he spent the first half of the season on loan at Vitoria Setubal before being recalled to Sporting and from then on he hasn't looked back leading him to come to the attention of Saints.
He signed a six year contract in March with a release clause of 45 million euros but he is worth far less than that at the moment.
In many respects he is just what Saints are looking for in the centre of defence, a youngster with some experience but with plenty of potential, so that he can provide cover in the centre of defence, but also be groomed as the replacement for Jose Fonte who cannot go on for ever I'm afraid.
He is versatile in that he can also play as a defensive midfielder although it is in the centre of defence that he has suddenly made people sit up and notice.
What to read next:
Saints V Stoke City A Look Back In Pictures 2In the second part of our pictorial look back at some of our games against Stoke City from the past, here we look back at more recent games, so most of you would have been at them.
Southampton V Stoke City The PreviewSaints go into the last two games of the season with their hopes of automatic promotion ended, even the hope of finishing 3rd is only a point away from being ended, but they do have something to play for and that is getting back the togetherness, character & fight Russell Martin has recently be moaned.
No Togetherness No Character No FightNot my words, but those of Southampton manager Russell Martin, who should ask himself the question why two months ago we had all those attributes and now we don't !
Southampton At Leicester The DebacleThe big question is how can a side that was so tight at the back, so clinical up front and who could pass the ball around almost with their eyes closed, become the disorganised rabble that they were at the Leicester City this evening.
Southampton At Leicester City The PreviewSaints travel up to Leicester knowing that it is almost certain that they will just be in the play offs come the end of the season, however there is still the feint hope of 3rd place to play for, however the Foxes are playing for a bigger prize.
A Rough Guide To Leicester City FCSaints head up to Leicester City this evening with their automatic promotion hopes just about over, so for the 3,000 fans who bought their tickets when there was hope here are the details.
Southampton At Cardiff City The VerdictThere can be no excuses for this defeat, a loss that effectively means that it will be a play off spot and not an automatic promotion place for Southampton, so where did it all go wrong.