Why Southampton would be wise to sign Tino Kadewere

Premier League side Southampton need to strengthen their squad in this month’s transfer window. It is crucial for manager Ralph Hasenhuttl to make some additions to improve his squad ahead of the final few months of the season.

The Saints have been alerted to Tino Kadewere’s exploits in the French second division and they are targeting him as a possible back-up option for veteran Danny Ings, according to Daily Mail.

According to WhoScored, Kadewere has scored 17 goals in 19 Ligue 2 appearances for Le Havre so far this season.

Kadewere is a good striker, who is in-form at the moment but the £10million price tag does sound a bit too high for a player in the second tier of French football. He is most commonly used in a central position but can be played anywhere across the front line.

Kadewere started his career with Harare City before he joined Djurgadens in 2016 after an impressive loan spell.

The Saints have moved five points clear of the bottom three in the Premier League. But Ralph Hasenhuttl will be wary of complacency with a relegation battle previously looking to be on the cards.

Kadewere scored six goals and provided six assists last season after a 16-goal campaign the year prior. Having begun his career at Djurgarden in Sweden as an 18-year-old, the forward earned his move to France. He has also played some games in the midfield and boasts of 42 career strikes.

Currently the undisputed first-choice at La Havre, the 23-year-old is having the season of his life. He has scored 17 goals in 19 league appearances this season and even picked up four assists along the way. Moreover, the Zimbabwean has scored five in his last five Ligue 2 appearances, showcasing the sheer consistency he can produce as well. At 23, he has notched up five caps for the Zimbabwean national team.

Verdict

The Saints have been blessed in the attacking department this season with former Liverpool striker Danny Ings being the biggest beneficiary. The Winchester-born attacker is still only 27 but has shown in the past that he can be extremely inconsistent.

Although the Englishman has scored 13 times in the league this term, the addition of Kadewere would make sense for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, especially considering that he’s versatile enough to play anywhere across the front-line.

Currently, in 12th place, the manager and the backroom team must aim to push up into the top half of the table in the coming weeks, in an attempt to break into the European places at the end of the campaign. Given the questionable form being displayed by some of the biggest clubs in the league, it certainly wouldn’t be past them either.

Signing a player of Kadewere’s quality would be sure to aid their cause during the second half of the season.