Southampton are keen to land the Spezia Calcio striker David Okereke who still has three years left on his contract with the Serie B club.
Having failed in their pursuit of Birmingham City forward Che Adams, the Saints have shifted their attention to Okereke, as per a report from the Sun.
The 21-year-old is also attracting interest from Wolves, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United.
Okereke scored 10 goals and mustered 12 assists in 33 appearances across all competitions for Spezia, but the side failed in their quest for promotion as they were defeated in the playoffs this past season.
The Saints have signed just one player so far in the transfer window, and are willing to bid £15 million for the Spezia forward.
Why David Okereke will be a good option for Southampton
Hasenhuttl’s all-action setup needs players who are mobile and can put in a shift regardless of the position they play in.
Okereke is a versatile forward, who usually features as a centre-forward but has the ability to fill in on the wings if needed.
The Nigerian youngster, who is 5 ft 9 in tall, possesses good strength to brush off opposition players and drive towards the goal. He also has the pace to burn, and his excellent dribbling ability could hold him in good stead in the Premier League.
Despite the likes of Shane Long, Charlie Austin, and Danny Ings at the club, Southampton struggled for goals and the spark in attack. While most of the forwards the Saints have at the club are hardworking, no one can offer the potency that Okereke showed for Spezia last season.
The Premier League club has lacked significant goals up front, which has forced the Austrian manager’s hand to look someplace else in the market.
Okereke’s goalscoring return highlights his composure in front of the goal, which would be a much-needed addition to the Southampton squad ahead of next season.
Hasenhuttl’s system is begging for a player like Okereke, and he could do the role that the likes of Timo Werner and Yussuf Poulsen did so well for the manager while he was at RB Leipzig.
Stat Courtesy: Transfermarkt