Southampton are now “in talks” to sign a “top-class” £15m midfielder, amid doubts over Mateus Fernandes’ future, reliable reporter Mike McGrath has revealed on X.
Saints pursuing new midfielder amid doubts over Fernandes' future
As we approach the final two weeks of the summer transfer window, there is still a great deal of doubt over the futures of Fernandes and Tyler Dibling, with the latter player being excluded from the first-team squad, amid major interest from Everton.
Fernandes, on the other hand, has remained available for selection, and the 21-year-old was singled out for praise by Will Still after scoring the winner in the 1-0 EFL Cup victory against Northampton.
When asked about the 21-year-old’s professionalism, Still said: “He’s top, he’s top. I think he’d missed quite a bit of football, which is understandable, but since we’ve brought him back in, he came on and made an impact on Saturday.”
That said, with the likes of West Ham United and Aston Villa in the race for the midfielder, it may be difficult to retain his services beyond the summer, and the Saints have now stepped up their pursuit of a potential replacement.
That is according to McGrath on X, who states that Southampton are now “in talks” to sign Coventry City’s Jack Rudoni, with it also being revealed they are looking to strike a deal for the midfielder very soon.
Reports from elsewhere have stated that a deal for Rudoni could set Still’s side back £15m, with Coventry taking a hardline stance on one of their prized assets, although a fee in that ballpark should be affordable for the Saints if they cash-in on Fernandes.
There have been suggestions that both Fernandes and Dibling could command £50m transfer fees, which would put the Championship promotion hopefuls on a solid financial footing.
"Top-class" Rudoni could be ideal Fernandes replacement
It would be a shame to see Fernandes leave, given that he is clearly held in high regard by Still, but it would be understandable if the youngster is eager to return to the Premier League, and there are signs the Coventry man could be an ideal replacement.
Much like the Portuguese starlet, the Coventry star has regularly featured in both central and attacking midfield throughout his career to date, and he certainly impressed manager Frank Lampard last season.
Lampard described the 24-year-old as a “top-class young player” after he scored in the 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion back in April, one of 21 attacking contributions across the Championship campaign.
Indeed, Rudoni chipped in with nine goals and 12 assists for the Sky Blues in the league last season, indicating that he is a top player at Championship level, and the London-born midfielder could play a major role in the Saints’ promotion push.