Southampton midfielder Ibrahima Diallo is in talks over a move to La Liga giants Valencia and, according to L’Equipe, the Premier League outfit would prefer a sale than a short-term loan.
It’s not often a club the size of Southampton are willing to splash out £14 million on an 18-year-old with just one start in senior football under his belt. So the Saints obviously see something very special in Romeo Lavia.
And if Diallo was struggling for regular game time before Lavia’s arrival, then the one-time Arsenal target now appears to be in serious danger of slipping even further down Ralph Hasenhuttl’s pecking order.
Diallo started just 10 Premier League matches in 2021/22. The experienced Oriol Romeu remains Southampton’s go-to defensive midfielder. James Ward-Prowse and Stuart Armstrong are usually preferred in the number eight roles. Joe Aribo also arrived from Rangers last week.
And, according to reports coming out of his homeland, Southampton are willing to cash in on former France U21 international Diallo. He arrived just two years ago from Stade Brest in a £13 million deal.
Is Ibrahima Diallo leaving Southampton for La Liga?
Valencia, who appointed former Italy star Gennaro Gattuso as their new coach recently, are in talks. A loan deal is on the cards but Southampton, L’Equipe add, would prefer to cut ties with Diallo permanently.
The former Monaco youngster, it seems, is not too disappointed to leave the South Coast behind. After two years of sporadic outings, Diallo wants a club where he can play regular first-team football, week-in, week-out.
Marca back up these claims.
They add that Southampton, if they were to accept a loan bid, would demand a ‘obligation-to-buy clause’ included in Diallo’s Valencia contract. A demand that threatens to derail the negotiations.
“I must say also Ibra was amazing,” Hasenhuttl said after the tenacious midfielder produced the best performance of his Saints career in the famous 1-0 win over Liverpool a year and a half ago.
“He’s a fantastic signing from the summer. He knows what he has to do. He knows what it’s about to play in our six position.”
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