Southampton are interested in signing free-agent midfielder Wellington Martins after his contract with Athletico Paranaense expired, as reported by Brazilian publication O Dia.
If there is one position where the Saints are well-stocked, it is in central midfield.
Set-piece master James Ward-Prowse might have hogged plenty of headlines this season, but Oriol Romeu and the criminally-underrated Stuart Armstrong have been equally impressive for a Southampton side sitting outside the Champions League places on goal-difference alone.
That is without mentioning youngster Will Smallbone – a player admired by head coach Ralph Hasenhuttl – and summer signing Ibrahima Diallo, who was nothing short of immense in last week’s 1-0 triumph over Liverpool.
So Southampton’s apparent interest in 29-year-old Wellington will raise a few eyebrows on the South Coast.
“We are receiving several polls for Wellington, we will decide soon (on where to go),” agent Marcelo Robalinho explained.
“Every day, new possibilities arise.
“And this is great for the athlete, not only from the market point of view, but also for self esteem, to see how much clubs like to around the world, including in the Premier League (want to sign him).”
Wellington spent two years at Athletico Paranaense, even captaining the side on occasions, but was allowed to depart when his contract expired on December 31.
A sturdy defensive midfielder, Wellington should add experience and leadership qualities to the Saints dressing room. He is a reliable distributor too, completing 87 per cent of his passes during the 2020 Brazilian top-flight campaign (WhoScored).
You would imagine, however, that Wellington would be a useful squad player at St Mary’s rather than someone capable of ousting Romeu or Armstrong from Hasenhuttl’s XI.
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