Alexander Djiku has given Wolves and Southampton fresh hope of luring him to the Premier League by admitting that he plans to leave Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg when his contract expires in 2023, speaking to L’Equipe.
With one of last season’s surprise packages stuck in the relegation zone – yet to win in their first eight games of the new campaign – Djiku could be forgiven for wishing that he had brought forward his departure 10 months or so.
Southampton showed an interest on deadline day (RMC Sport). As did Wolverhampton Wanderers. In fact, Wolves were in advanced talks over a £5 million deal before the window closed on September 1st (L’Equipe).
With that in mind, expect both clubs to maintain a watchful eye on Djiku as the Ghana international prepares to bid farewell to Strasbourg next July.
Will Alexander Djiku join Wolves or Southampton for free?
“I have individual goals for my career and I hope to achieve them,” the 28-year-old explains. “I was looking for an ambitious, European but also a fulfilling project for my family (in the summer). It didn’t show up.
“(Bundesliga outfit) Hoffenheim came up with something. We studied the proposal but I didn’t sign. It wasn’t a big disappointment. I will have other opportunities.
“At my age, I am in the best shape of my career. I want my progress to be consistent. (A move) hasn’t happened, but it will next season because I will be at the end of my contract.”
Djiku was a major part of the Strasbourg team who flirted with European qualification in 2021/22, featuring in 32 of a possible 38 Ligue 1 games. It seems unlikely, as things stand, that either Wolves or Southampton could offer him guaranteed first-team football, however.
Max Kilman and Nathan Collins are striking up an impressive understanding at Molineux, while Armel Bella-Kotchap and Mohammed Salisu have established themselves as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first-choice defensive duo on the South Coast, leading to Jan Bednarek’s deadline day departure.
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