Ronald Koeman is not happy with his central defensive options and has according to the Spanish media drawn up a list of potential targets, including one from his former club Southampton.
Mohammed Salisu was a slow starter at St Mary's, he arrived just over a year ago from Spanish club Valladolid for £10.9 million, but was carrying an injury that along with Covid 19 quarantine restrictions prevented him from having a full pre season.
With Jannik Vestergaard the man he had been signed to replace suddenly finding form, there seemed to be no rush on Ralph Hasenhutt's part to play the Ghanian defender and although he was named in a few squads it would be February before he would make his first team bow.
It was clear from that first game in the FA Cup at Wolves that Salisu was a man who could read the game, but again Ralph was not to be rushed and although he would make a total of 15 appearances last season, 4 of the 12 in the Premier league would be off the bench as would 2 of his 3 FA Cup appearances.
But Saints knew they had a talent on their hands and they now had no hesitation in selling Jannik Vestergaard and Salisu was straight into the starting line up for the opening day of the Premier League this season and has played in all 4 games so far.
His progress has not gone unnoticed in Spain where he formerly plied his trade and ex Saints boss Ronald Koeman reportably has him on a list of 5 potential transfer targets as he looks to revamp his central defensive options.
Koeman feels that the likes of Gerard Pique are getting closer to retirement and his other options he is not 100% confident about.
On that shortlist are Sven Botman, Aymeric Laporte, Matthijs de Ligt and Cristian Romero and also Mohammed Salisu.
How much of a hurry Koeman is in to get a new man in is not made clear by Spanish media outlet fichajes.net, but they seem sure that it will happen at some point in the future.
In the meantime Salisu continues to impress at Southampton, at only 21 when he arrived at St Mary's and with only 31 La Liga appearances to his name at Valladolid, he lacked experience, but having adapted to English football, he is now starting to blossom.
Saints have been criticised for their transfer dealings in the last few years, but of late they seem to have started to get things right again after the departure of Les Reed and Salisu looks to be one of a number of recent signings who are of the standard required.