Southampton coach Ralph Hasenhuttl has rubbished reports linking Che Adams with Premier League rivals Everton but, speaking to Hampshire Live, he admits Nathan Tello could go on loan with Burnley keen.
At the risk of raining on Frank Lampard’s parade, it always felt unlikely that Southampton would be rushing to accept any offers for their £15 million Scotland international during the final few weeks of the window.
The Saints have just three senior centre-forwards on their books. One of those, Sekou Mara, arrives as an unproven 20-year-old from relegated Bordeaux. Another, Adam Armstrong, has just two goals in 24 Premier League games.
Adams will not be going anywhere for the time being, then. And certainly not on loan. So striker-searching Everton are barking up the wrong tree, with The Athletic reporting that a loan-to-buy bid is being considered by the powers-that-be at Goodison Park.
Everton want Che Adams from Southampton
“There’s nothing serious behind this rumour. We are not trying to loan players to anyone,” Hasenhuttl said, comments that should have Everton frantically re-jigging the terms of their offer.
One player who could leave St Mary’s on a short-term basis, however, is Nathan Tella. Unlike Adams, the 23-year-old academy graduate would benefit from joining a club capable of offering him regular first-team football.
He started just 10 league matches in 2021/22.
According to the Daily Echo, Burnley are hoping to seal Tella’s signature as early as Thursday afternoon.
“I think it’s not 100 per cent clear,” Hasenhuttl said when asked about the speedy winger. “But we’re looking to give him a chance to get more game time.”
Burnley can certainly offer him that.
Clarets boss Vincent Kompany confirmed his intention to bring a new wideman to Turf Moor before the window closes during his mid-week press conference, before admitting that deals for Sporting Lisbon’s Jovane Cabral and Cardiff City’s Isaak Davies had hit the buffers.
Another target – Stuttgart’s Darko Churlinov – is joining Kompany’s old employers Anderlecht.
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