Southampton interested in Toulouse defensive midfielder Ibrahim Sangaré
Southampton are looking at a deal for Ivory Coast and Toulouse midfielder Ibrahim Sangaré to bolster Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad ahead of the transfer window closing.
The 22-year-old was relegated from Ligue 1 last season and will be sold for the right price, with just one year left on his deal meaning the French club risk losing him for nothing in nine months.
He is seen as a direct replacement for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who left for Tottenham in a deal worth £15million. Given Toulouse’s relegation to the second-tier, they could be tempted by a £7million deal.
Sangaré has been on Southampton’s radar previously and has been tracked by them last season when Toulouse finished bottom of the table in the season stopped short following the coronavirus pandemic.
He has been at Stadium De Toulouse his entire professional career, breaking into the first team four years ago and earning caps for his country.
Hasenhuttl is yet to replace Hojbjerg following the departure of the Denmark international, who was his captain last season. They have lost to Crystal Palace and Tottenham in their opening two matches of the Premier League season and also lost to Brentford in the EFL Cup.
In the high-scoring reverse to Spurs they played with James Ward-Prowse in central midfield, with the England midfielder moving in from his usual place on the right flank. Sangaré would provide protection to Hasenhuttl’s defence as an out-and-out defensive midfielder who would slot in alongside Oriol Romeu.
The Saints manager has brought in Mohammed Salisu to bolster his defence and turned Kyle Walker-Peters’ loan from Spurs into a permanent deal at right-back, but has been looking to strengthen in the middle of his team.
Harrison Reed’s loan to Fulham was also made permanent in an £8million, which gave Hasenhuttl one less option in the defensive-midfield role.
