Southampton transfer news: Jesse Marsch could pip Leeds to £17m target

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Lecce are reportedly open to selling Morten Hjulmand at a lower fee than what the Dane was worth in January, with Southampton and incoming manager Jesse Marsch both interested in signing the midfielder.

According to Corriere dello Sport, the Serie A side are open to lowering their €20m (£17m) asking price for Hjulmand in the summer having waved off interest from Southampton and Leeds United in January for the 23-year-old, with the Saints even making a bid for the midfielder as reported by Gianluca Di Marzio.

With Leeds also chasing Hjulmand according to SportItalia’s Rudy Galetti, the stars are now seemingly lining for Marsch to sign the Lecce playmaker in the summer, with the American manager set to be named as the new head coach of Southampton at some point this week.

Regarded by many as one of the most underrated midfielders in Italy this season, this latest update from Lecce seems to indicate that they’re willing to cash in on Hjulmand when his stock is as high as it has ever been, with Southampton the leading Premier League side to sign the Scandinavian.

Indeed, whilst AS Roma are also interested in signing Hjulmand, England could be a more appealing prospect for the midfielder, especially if Marsch is able to pull off the seemingly impossible and keep Southampton in the Premier League, with the Saints currently sat bottom.

And with Lecce set to lower their asking price for Hjulmand, Southampton could land a potential bargain for the Serie A star if they can stay up in the Premier League and also provide a better financial package than Roma for I Salentini.

Southampton must sign Hjulmand if Marsch keeps Saints away from drop

Marsch has one almighty task on his hands in keeping Southampton up in the Premier League, with the south coast side as close as they have ever been from returning to the Championship. Yet if the former Leeds coach can do the impossible and keep the Saints up, then signing Hjulmand must become a priority.

The Danish midfielder has been exceptional for Lecce this season, and with the Serie A side now open to selling the 23-year-old for a cheaper fee in the summer, Southampton must be at the front of the queue to sign Hjulmand, who could offer a lot to Marsch.