According to The Telegraph, Southampton are interested in signing Toulouse’s Ibrahim Sangare as a replacement for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
The 22-year-old could be available for a reasonable fee with just one year left on his contract following the French club’s relegation to Ligue 2.
Sangare has been compared to Premier League legends Yaya Toure and Michael Essien by African journalist Alpha Balde.
Goal quote him as saying: ‘Physically, he’s like Yaya Toure but he reminds me of Michael Essien.’
Further down in Goal’s article, it’s also mentioned that Max Gradel – an ex-teammate of Sangare’s at Toulouse – has nicknamed the midfielder after the Manchester City legend.
Get French Football News journalist Mohamed Toubache-TER recently revealed that Tottenham are very interested in Sangare, and have been following him for a long time.
In Southampton’s case however, they are desperate for midfield reinforcements.
Ralph Hasenhuttl has already lost Hojbjerg to Tottenham, and also offloaded Harrison Reed and Mario Lemina.
No midfielders have yet been signed to balance out these departures.
So far, it has been telling. Southampton have lost their opening two Premier League games, conceding six goals in the process as their midfield is currently far too spacious.
However, if they can land the man-mountain that is the 6 foot 3 Sangare, that will help the problem immeasurably.
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