Southampton are reportedly interested in signing Yangel Herrera, who is currently on loan at Spanish side Granada from his parent club Manchester City. Herrera is yet to make his City debut.
As per Manchester Evening News, Yangel Herrera is being tracked by Southampton, as well as West Ham United. The report states that a couple of Spanish clubs and Premier League sides are interested in signing him, but City are waiting to see if they may need to incorporate him in their first-team set-up.
The 23-year-old moved to the club from Atletico Venezuela in 2017 and has had loan spells with New York City FC, Huesca, and now Granada. In his two-year stay at Granada, the midfielder has played 74 games, scoring 10 goals and 5 assists.
Yangel Herrera to Southampton: A good fit?
Yangel Herrera has primarily played as a defensive midfielder or central midfielder, while also playing as an attacking midfielder at times. He has been pushed forward to play behind the striker this year, thanks to his technical ability and ability to thread balls into the attackers.
The Venezuelan international is solid as a defensive midfielder, capable of stopping opposition attackers with his intense pressing and aggressive tackling. He has averaged 1.8 tackles and 1 interception per game this season in La Liga. Herrera is also very good in the air, averaging a whopping 4.4 aerial duel wins per game this season.
The 23-year-old is neat and composed on the ball from his midfield position and doesn’t complicate things. Herrera has shown great progress this season at Granada and has the potential to be a decent midfielder in the Premier League.
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl demands his midfielders to work hard and press with great intensity in the middle of the pitch. Yangel Herrera would be a good addition to the Saints squad for next season and could go on to become a key player. Hasenhuttl has predominantly utilised three midfielders for his midfield duties this season – captain James Ward-Prowse, experienced midfielder Oriol Romeu, and new signing Ibrahima Diallo.
Ward-Prowse has been the Saints’ best player this season, while Romeu has been a solid operator as well. Diallo has impressed in the last few games that he has played for Southampton in the Premier League. But, Hasenhuttl’s squad may need another hard-working midfielder to reduce the workload that is currently on the above three.
Herrera could fit in smoothly into the Southampton set-up as he has the attributes that the Saints manager requires of his players. He has had good experience in La Liga and has been a key part of Granada’s progress over the last two seasons and he should be ready to make the big jump to the Premier League.
