Southampton have received a boost in their hunt for Werder Bremen man Leonardo Bittencourt with their director making a bold transfer claim.
Southampton is getting ready to return to the Premier League.
Under Russell Martin’s leadership, the team secured promotion last season through the play-offs. They narrowly defeated Leeds United at Wembley last month, leading to Southampton reclaiming their Premier League status.
The Saints have already begun making early moves to bridge the gap between the lower division and the top tier before the official opening of the transfer window on Friday.
Earlier reports linked Bittencourt with Southampton last month, stating that the club was interested in the 30-year-old Bundesliga player. An update on their pursuit has now surfaced.
In an interview, Werder Bremen director Clemens Fritz addressed the interest. He mentioned in an interview with DeichStube (as reported by Sport Witness):
“We haven’t received any formal offer. Therefore, we are not currently engaging with the matter.”
Fritz further stated that ‘no player is untouchable’ and that Werder Bremen is ‘always open to negotiations’ as long as the transfer fee meets their expectations.
Down to the Saints
It appears that Southampton hasn’t taken any concrete steps towards signing the seasoned midfielder at this point.
Nevertheless, there seems to be a possibility of a transfer happening this summer if both clubs can come to terms on a suitable transfer fee.
Last season, Bittencourt featured in 29 Bundesliga matches for Werder Bremen, contributing to three goals.
Since his arrival in 2019, he has been a consistent presence for the club, and he has exclusively played his entire professional career in Germany up to now.
Making progress
Martin’s team has been proactive this summer, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis transitioning to a permanent signing following the activation of an obligation to purchase clause in his loan agreement.
In another instance, Martin’s side aims to secure Ryan Fraser’s permanent transfer from Newcastle United this summer through a loan deal conversion.
Furthermore, they are looking to bring Flynn Downes back to the team from West Ham after his stint on the southern coast last season.
The previous season witnessed three clubs struggling to adapt to the Premier League’s demands. However, this time around, there seems to be more optimism for the three recently promoted teams.
Leave a Reply