Despite making seven signings already this summer, Southampton are far from done in the transfer market.
So far, Russell Martin‘s focus has been very much on defensive reinforcements, with five of the seven incomings playing in the backline and another Flynn Downes’ £18 million arrival who tends to operate just in front of the defence.
The other is Adam Lallana, the 36-year-old who has returned to his first club a decade after leaving for Liverpool.
Despite the fact Southampton have already welcomed three centre-backs this summer – and a left-back who can also play centre-back in Charlie Taylor – they are now linked with a bargain swoop for a central defender who impressed at Euro 2024.
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Southampton interested in Slovenia defender Vanja Drkusic
Even though every elite club has an extensive scouting network and databases full of information about potential targets, major international tournaments still represent a huge opportunity for players to earn a big move.
This summer’s Euro 2024 was no different and a Slovenia defender appears to have caught the eye of Southampton.
That is according to Mundo Deportivo, who report that Southampton, Leicester and Sevilla are all ‘interested’ in a move for Vanja Drkusic.
The 24-year-old, who currently plies his trade for Sochi in Russia, started every game for Slovenia at a Euros in which they conceded just two goals in four games and kept clean sheets against both England and Portugal.
The report states: ‘Sevilla needs troops in the center of the defense and has noticed a Russian Sochi player. Vanja Drkusic, a 24-year-old international defender with Slovenia, would have raised the interest of the Seville sports management’.
It then adds: ‘The sports director of Sochi has confirmed the interest in the soccer player, who also has offers in England, such as Southampton and Leicester’.
The report also suggests that Drkusic is valued at a bargain fee of just £3 million, meaning he could prove another astute bit of business for Southampton.
Could Southampton interest in Drkusic mean a defender will leave?
Interest in Drjusic could merely be Southampton being opportunistic in trying to sign a player who has impressed them for a bargain fee.
However, it could also mean a defender is set to leave the club and that will be the worry as Jan Bednarek enters the final year of his contract.
Considering Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ronnie Edwards and Nathan Wood have all already arrived permanently in the centre-back position the summer and Jack Stephens is club captain, Bednarek is the only central defender who could realistically be sold.
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There is little need for Martin to have six senior centre-backs at the club, particularly when both Taylor and Shea Charles can also fill in there.
Southampton are keen to avoid losing players for free, so unless Bednarek signs a new contract imminently, the club could be left with little choice but to sell.