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Southampton announced that striker Manolo Gabbiadini had signed for Sampdoria on a permanent deal – reportedly worth £12m – on Friday, and they may have moved closer to signing £14m Ralph Hasenhuttl target David Selke as a result.
What’s the word, then?
Well, a report in The Express last month reported that the Saints boss is keen to bring the Bundesliga striker to St Mary’s, having managed the German when he was manager of RB Leipzig.
However, there is a clear indication that the south coast outfit needed to sell before they can buy this month, and as well as losing the high wages of Steven Davis and Gabbiadini, the transfer fee should also be a huge boost in the club’s search for reinforcements.
With Danny Ings struggling with regular injury niggles and Shane Long and Charlie Austin not really good enough to start up top in the Premier League on a regular basis, Southampton are crying out for a striker that will offer them something different and also fit into Hasenhuttl’s pressing style.
Is Selke the answer?
He might well be.
Not only is the 23-year-old relatively pacy but he can also act as something of a target man given his 6’4″ frame, and that is an option that Saints don’t really have available to them right now aside from perhaps Sam Gallagher.
Despite scoring 14 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions for Hertha during the 2017/18 campaign, the centre-forward has struggled to hold down a regular spot in the XI this term and an exit may well be on the cards this month if his reported £14m price tag is met.
Southampton are certainly in a better position to shell that out following the departure of Gabbiadini, and a deal may well be closer to happening as Hasenhuttl remains keen to strengthen his team in the final third.
Check out the video below for Emma Conybeare’s rundown of which clubs need what in the January transfer window…
