Dinamo Zagreb forward Mislav Orsic has ‘agreed terms’ with Premier League strugglers Southampton despite rumoured interest from Everton and Nottingham Forest, according to Croatian publication Index.
In the aftermath of Manchester United’s 4-0 defeat to Brentford in August – Erik Ten Hag’s Old Trafford era starting in humiliating fashion – Casemiro wasted little time phoning John Murtough to reassure the United director that he was having no second thoughts about a mega-money move from Real Madrid.
Orsic, it seems, has responded in a similarly belligerent manner to Southampton’s 1-0 loss at home to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night. Even as the boos rang out, even as chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ rained down on beleaguered head coach Nathan Jones, Orsic is refusing to shy away from the challenge.
The World Cup semi-finalist, Index say, has agreed terms with Southampton. The Saints, bottom of the table with just three wins from 18 matches, saw an opening bid of £4 million rejected. But they could get the deal done for around £7 million.
Southampton close in on Mislav Orsic amid Everton and Nottingham Forest links
Southampton don’t tend to make a habit of signing players the wrong side of 30. But, as the club stare down the barrel of relegation, now could be the ideal time to deviate from their usual transfer policy. Orsic, unlike many of Southampton’s recent signings, is not quite ‘one for the future’. More a player capable of making an immediate impact. And an immediate impact is exactly what Jones needs.
He’s scored 20 goals in each of the last three seasons from out wide. Orsic, a ‘special’ and hugely underrated footballer, also tends to thrive on the big occasions. Just ask Jose Mourinho and Tottenham Hotspur. He also scored one of the best goals at the Qatar World Cup; a sublime chip in the third-place play-off with Morocco.
Per Index, Southampton are the only club to have made an offer for the one-time Burnley and West Brom target. Nottingham Forest and Everton have also been linked. Neither club has submitted a bid of their own, however. Though that could still change. Emmanuel Dennis – another left-sided attacker – could leave the City Ground after just six disappointing months in Garibaldi red.
Southampton are also in talks with Lorient striker Terem Moffi and Racing Club playmaker Carlos Alcaraz. A bid is in place for Villarreal’s Nicolas Jackson.
Danny Ings may also make an emotional return to St Mary’s. Not that Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has any plans to let him go before the month is out.
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