Wesley Hoedt has re-iterated his desire to leave Southampton on a permanent basis this summer, speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, with a move to Club Brugge appealing to him.
When the Saints spent £15 million to sign a Dutch international centre-half from Lazio, they probably didn’t expect to be farming him out on loan to Belgium just two years later.
Barring a remarkable turnaround, Hoedt has surely played his final game in those red and white stripes.
Voetbal 24 reports that Southampton will accept just £6 million for a talented central defender who has made just 41 Premier League appearances for the South Coast club, falling out of favour since Ralph Hasenhuttl replaced Mark Hughes in late-2018.
And such a stance is likely to please Hoedt, with the 26-year-old making it clear that he has little interest in a return to St Mary’s.
“There is enough interest. I can’t say more about that, because I remain dependent on Southampton,” says Hoedt, who impressed initially in England with his impressing passing range.
“The intention is that this time I leave permanently. I just read rumors about (joining) Club Brugge, but I’m surprised: I haven’t heard anything about that myself. So I just see it as a compliment.
“But you’d be crazy to rule things out.”
Hoedt is likely to fall even further down the pecking order at Southampton once Mohammed Salisu, the 20-year-old Real Valladolid stopper, seals his £11 million move to England.
Club Brugge, meanwhile, stormed to the Jupiler League title in 2020 and should have few problems paying that £6 million fee once they sell £20 million-rated striker Emmanuel Dennis.
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