Long-serving player wants Southampton exit, Saints could sell for £12m

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Jan Bednarek wants to leave Premier League outfit Southampton this summer, according to Meczyki, with a move to Serie A one possibility. 

And it seems unlikely that The Saints will stand in his way either.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have reportedly slapped a £12 million price-tag on Bednarek’s head. What’s more, the sudden arrival of Armel Bella-Kotchap from Bundesliga outfit VFL Bochum means Southampton may already have a readymade replacement on their books. 

Meczyki claim that Roma – under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho – are one of the clubs most interested in Bednarek. Napoli could also be in the race, according to Corriere dello Sport, amid doubts surrounding the future of Senegalese colossus Kalidou Koulibaly at the Stadio Armando Maradona. 

Is Jan Bednarek leaving Southampton?

One of the most maddeningly inconsistent footballers anywhere in the Premier League, there remains a massive gap difference between ‘a good Bednarek’ and, well, a bad one.  

On his day, the 26-year-old Poland international is a more-than reliable centre-half. Unfortunately, those days have become rarer and rarer of late, those lapses in concentration becoming increasingly common.

That has not stopped Bednarek from racking up the appearances, however. He started 30 times for The Saints in 2021/22 alone. 

Perhaps, with Bella-Kotchap arriving and with a World Cup on the horizon, Bednarek feels that now is the time to embark upon a new adventure. In addition to the Paris-born, Germany U21 international, Hasenhuttl has Mohamed Salisu, Lyanco and Yan Valery as centre-back options. 

Homegrown Jack Stephens has also signed a new deal.

“I am very pleased that we have been able to secure Armel’s signing,” Hasenhuttl tells Southampton’s official website of the £9 million Bella-Kotchap. 

“He is a player who fits our profile very well and has a huge amount of potential. But, with the number of senior games he has already played, he can help us immediately.

“I think he has made the perfect choice in wanting to join us and we will now work with him to make sure he reaches his potential both for himself and for the team.

“We already have some very strong options in defence and Armel adds more attributes to that list.”