Southampton have been snubbed after making a low-ball bid for Real Valladolid defender Mohammed Salisu, with France Football claiming that the Saints’ offer fell short of his £10 million release clause.
The 20-year-old Ghanaian might already feel like a bargain in an age where talented centre-halves tend to command ridiculous transfer fees – but that has not stopped Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side from trying to snap him up for an even smaller sum.
Southampton have been tracking Salisu since January and, with the summer transfer window creaking open, it seems that the Premier League outfit are stepping up their interest.
France Football claims that a bid has been lodged, though the Saints have opted against triggering his affordable release clause thus far.
Real Valladolid are unwilling to budge, however, safe in the knowledge that if Southampton are not willing to pay that £10 million then someone else will.
Wolves, Newcastle, Manchester United, Everton and Watford have also been linked with Salisu in recent months, with the Premier League emerging as the preferred destination for a player who Rennes have given up on signing.
“The player has his mother tongue which is English, so he is giving priority to the Premier League for now,” Rennes president Nicolas Holveck said last week.
Interestingly, FootMercato claims that Salisu would love to join Southampton and, given the option, he would choose the South Coast club over any other English outfit.
And considering how impressive he has been during a fine breakthrough season in La Liga, a Salisu-Jack Stephens partnership could provide the platform for a Europa League push in the very near future.
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