Southampton were linked with a move for Leeds United’s Pontus Jansson last summer.
It seems questionable now, but Leeds United fans were worried about the prospect of Southampton poaching Pontus Jansson last summer and in January.
The Sun on Sunday (print edition; 24th December 2017; page 61) reported that the Saints were ready to renew an interest in the Sweden international during the winter transfer window as a replacement for Virgil van Dijk, who joined Liverpool.
The towering centre-back enjoyed a brilliant first season at Elland Road last term, initially signing on loan before a permanent £3.6 million deal was struck with Torino.
But the 27-year-old has been very hit and miss for Leeds this time around and you wonder whether it’s best for Jansson and Southampton that a move never materialised. He might have been a disaster in the top flight.
The former Malmo product was questionable during the Whites’ 3-0 defeat by Wolves on Wednesday, having also struggled in the thumping by Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Friday.
He is nowhere near as consistent as he was under Garry Monk last season and Southampton are probably better off without him, even though they’re still struggling.
Mauricio Pellegrino’s side are one point above the drop zone in the Premier League. They might well be relegated, but you get the impression that their season might have been worse had they landed the Swede – especially as Van Dijk’s replacement.
Jansson, on his day, is a terrific central defender, but if he isn’t consistent enough for the Championship then Premier League opposition might have ruined him this season.
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