Southampton and Fulham appear to have no chance of landing Martin Hinteregger, with the defender’s agent and father making it clear that it will take something special to lure him away from Eintracht Frankfurt, while speaking to Krone.
With just days remaining until the new Premier League season kicks off, that 9-0 thumping at the hands of a lethal Leicester City is a distant memory.
Ralph Hasenhuttl has transformed Southampton’s previously porous back line with highly-rated Mohammed Salisu joining Jan Bednarek and the increasingly impressive Jack Stephens at St Mary’s.
The Saints are not finished just yet, however, with Sky Sports reporting in August that they have set their sights on signing another defender from mainland Europe.
Austria international Hinteregger appears to be the man in question, although Southampton may be barking up the wrong tree as they look to lure the £20 million-rated stopper away from one of Germany’s most exciting clubs.
“There is nothing concrete about it, Martin sees his future in Frankfurt, has a contract until 2024. He blocks everything out,” said agent Christian Sand.
Hinteregger’s father, Franz, adds: “Only a very large club would appeal to him – he is not interested in money anyway.”
Even the most hard-nosed Southampton fan would struggle to claim that they are one of the Premier League’s true powerhouses, even if Hasenhuttl has those on the South Coast dreaming of another European adventure in the near future.
The Sun (6 September, page 62) reports that Fulham are also interested but do not expect to see Hinteregger join a club likely to spend 2020/21 battling against relegation.
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