Premier League Southampton were expected to win the £17 million race for Shakthar Donetsk winger but, according to Yahoo Sports, the Everton and West Ham United target is now closing in on a move to Lyon instead.
Clubs in England’s top flight have been barred from signing players based in Russia or Ukraine outside of the transfer window. But there is nothing to stop Tete joining a Premier League club when the market opens in the summer.
And it looked for all the world that, despite interest from Everton, West Ham and Leicester, the fleet-footed Brazilian would be plying his trade at St Mary’s next season.
According to 90Min, Southampton are ‘confident’ that they have won the race for Tete’s sought-after signature.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints side are also reported to have made a ‘formal offer’, while entering advanced negotiations for a player also on the radars of Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Bayern Munich.
But it’s not over until the fat lady sings. And though she may be clearing her throat and practicing her scales – with reports suggesting that Tete was bound for the South Coast – it seems there is a rather unpleasant sting in this particular tale.
Will Southampton now miss out on Shakhtar Donetsk’s Tete?
According to Yahoo Sports, Tete and his agent arrived in France this week. They won’t be crossing the Channel any time soon either.
Clubs in France, unlike those in England, have opened the door to Ukranian-based players eyeing an escape route out of the war-torn nation.
Tete, the report adds, will now sign a short-term deal at Lyon until the end of the season. He will then join Les Gones on a permanent basis from July.
Only ‘small bureaucratic details’ are preventing Lyon from unveiling Tete – who will cost around £17 million (Il Mattino) – at the Groupama Stadium.
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The ball, then, is back in Southampton’s court. A counter-offer must be made. Before it’s too late.
Then again, it might already be too late.
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