Southampton have called off a deal to sign Fiorentina goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski with work permit regulations complicating his potential switch to the Premier League, as reported by Meczyki.
Last month, it seemed only a matter of time before the £10 million-rated Poland international was being unveiled at St Mary’s.
Tomasz Wlodarczyk, one of the most respected football reporters in the country, claimed in May that Dragowski was set to sign for Southampton before being immediately installed as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s new number one, replacing the Tottenham-bound Fraser Forster.
So what happened? Why are the Saints suddenly on the verge of bringing in Manchester City wonderkid Gavin Bazunu instead, while Espanyol enter talks with Dragowski?
Southampton’s Bartlomiej Dragowski deal falls through
According to Meczyki, Southampton backed away from the former Empoli loanee after holding talks for a number of weeks. One of the main reasons is because Dragowski, in the post-Brexit era, would have struggled to obtain a work permit to play in the Premier League.
That very same problem could also scupper Bournemouth’s hopes of bringing in the talented 24-year-old.
The report adds that La Liga outfit Espanyol are now the frontrunners for Dragowski. He will replace former Real Madrid stopper Diego Lopez, the 40-year-old having departed the RCDE Stadium recently.
Celta Vigo is another potential destination. Fiorentina reportedly offered Dragowski plus £6 million with highly-rated left-back Javi Galan heading in the other direction.
Southampton, meanwhile, should complete the signing of 20-year-old Bazunu imminently after paying Manchester City an initial fee of £12 million, rising to £15 million. One of the most talented young shot-stoppers around – Danny Cowley, his manager during a loan spell at Portsmouth said Bazunu will become ‘world-class’ – the Ireland international feels like a real coup of a signing for the Saints, even if he lacks the top-flight experience of Dragowski.
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