Ralph Hasenhuttl hopes to build on the £15m arrival of new Southampton striker Adam Armstrong by signing a versatile centre-back this summer, according to The Sun.
Southampton finalised Armstrong’s move to the south coast from Championship side Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday. The 24-year-old agreed a four-year deal with the Saints, having felt they offered the ‘perfect’ next step of his career.
Armstrong spent three seasons at Blackburn after leaving boyhood side Newcastle United in 2018. He scored 64 times and laid on 19 assists in 160 appearances in all competitions. His 28 goals in 40 Championship outings last term marking the second-best haul, as well.
Armstrong was the second arrival at Southampton on Tuesday after Hasenhuttl secured a season-long loan for Chelsea striker Armando Broja. The Austrian coach now intends to bolster the Saints backline with a versatile centre-half before the August 31 deadline.
Hasenhuttl hopes to acquire an option to challenge Jan Bednarek, Jannik Vestergaard, Jack Stephens and Mohammed Salisu next season. A new arrival may also replace Vestergaard, who The Telegraph report West Ham admire.
Leicester have also held talks with Southampton over a deal to sign Vestergaard, per The Telegraph. Hasenhuttl would prefer to retain the Denmark international, but the £60,000-per-week ace may force him to sell, as he is in the last year of his contract.
Hasenhuttl also hopes any centre-back Southampton acquire this summer can also feature in holding midfield. The Saints have limited options for natural central midfield roles with Oriol Romeu, Ibrahima Diallo, James Ward-Prowse, Stuart Armstrong and Will Smallbone.
Southampton face tough task matching Hasenhuttl’s post-Armstrong ambitions
Southampton could face a tough challenge to match Hasenhuttl’s next transfer plans after signing Armstrong from Blackburn Rovers. The Saints will have to inform any centre-half targets that they will likely be low down the Austrian’s pecking order.
Bednarek and Vestergaard were often nailed on for roles in Premier League fixtures last season. Only captain Ward-Prowse played more minutes (3,420) than Bednarek (3,101), in total, too. While Vestergaard played 1,000 more minutes than Stephens at centre-back.
Stephens would hope he rises to second-choice behind Bednarek if Vestergaard does leave. So, Hasenhuttl’s versatile late-window addition may be the third or fourth-choice option at Southampton if any are signed.
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