Southampton have been linked with a move for Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy as the Terriers enter a rebuilding phase following their relegation to the Championship.
According to a report Australian outlet The World Game, six clubs have Mooy on their radar although no official offer has yet been made for the midfielder.
Despite an injury-ravaged season which saw Mooy miss the AFC Asian Cup with Australia, he still managed to make 30 appearances for Huddersfield Town, scoring 3 goals in the process.
However, he couldn’t help Huddersfield survive relegation as the side managed to pick up just 16 points.
Aaron Mooy would be a good option for Ralph Hasenhuttl
Hasenhuttl’s side like to play an aggressive brand of football, where things tend to happen at a higher tempo. The midfield is especially key, as the players need to have a good work-rate.
Mooy is a versatile player who can play any role in the midfield. He would be a good addition as he did play under David Wagner, another German whose style was heavily influenced by the Jurgen Klopp blueprint, something Hasenhuttl loosely follows as well.
The Australian International played in a double pivot in the Huddersfield midfield more often than not, and featured as a deep-lying playmaker. Mooy was responsible for keeping and recycling possession, and served as the link between the backline and the forwards.
Mooy started 25 games for Huddersfield this past season, and despite playing in a deeper role, he averaged 1.5 key passes a game, which shows he has a knack for picking out the right pass and create an opening for his teammates.
The 28-year old had a pass accuracy of 80.2% with Huddersfield, and that is likely to improve at Southampton considering he will play with better players.
From a defensive point of view, Mooy managed 2.1 tackles a game in the Premier League on an average, thereby showing that he can do the dirty work when needed.
A player Mooy’s his creative ability and defensive awareness would add good value to the Southampton team, who will look to finish higher up the table next season after retaining their top-flight status in the recently concluded Premier League campaign.
Stat Courtesy: Whoscored