According to a report by Spanish news outlet Sport, Southampton are edging closer to signing Barcelona centre-back Marlon Santos this summer.
A deal in the region of £10.6million is understood to be on the table and it seems like a brilliant move for the Saints. Southampton barely escaped relegation last season as they finished 17th but ahead of the new term, they must work towards strengthening their team to a great extent.
Over the years, the South Coast outfit have built a reputation of being a selling club. Their transfer policy is based on recruiting young players with potential, to sell them for a higher fee. And it is a system that has worked so far, with the latest example being Virgil van Dijk’s record-breaking move to Liverpool.
To that end, a move for Santos makes sense since the 22-year-old Brazilian centre-back is a future superstar. If he lives up to his potential, he would provide excellent resale value for Southampton.
The youngster joined Barcelona from Brazilian side Fluminense but since then, he has struggled to clock regular minutes for the Catalans. And one cannot blame him since Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti have forged a solid centre-back partnership for the Spanish outfit.
Hence, the club sent him out on a loan to OGC Nice last season. Santos proved to be a hit as he made 27 appearances in the Ligue 1. However, now that he is back in Barcelona, it is important for him to prioritize regular game time above everything else.
Santos is an excellent all-around defender blessed with admirable skills on and off the ball. He is tall, powerful and boasts of incredible pace which often helps him initiate attacks as well. In addition to that, he is quite composed while on the field, which is a remarkable trait for a player his age.
In conclusion, Santos has all the skills required of a modern-day centre-back and due to his excellent stamina and physicality, he could be a great success in the Premier League.
With Mark Hughes at the helm, Southampton are in for some massive changes. But first and foremost, they must find a replacement for van Dijk. Ever since the towering Dutchman moved to Liverpool, the Saints have struggled at the back.
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With that in mind, Santos could be a brilliant signing for Southampton. If he continues to develop at this pace, one can only imagine the price tag he would command in a few years’ time.
