According to reports in The Sun, Southampton are targeting a summer move for £18m-rated Sassuolo forward Gregoire Defrel, and he could be a direct replacement for Jay Rodriguez.
Rodriguez looks set to leave the south coast outfit in the coming weeks despite the departure of Claude Puel and recent appointment of Mauricio Pellegrino, with a £14m move to West Bromwich Albion on the cards according to the Daily Mirror, with the Argentine boss giving the move the green light.
The former Burnley man endured another frustrating campaign at St Mary’s as he continues to look to rediscover the form that saw him on the brink of being named in the England squad for the 2014 World Cup, before he suffered a serious injury against Manchester City just weeks before the tournament.
Saints may well be looking to fill the gap left by the 27-year-old if he does make the move to the Midlands, and Defrel could be the man to do it after a successful campaign with the unfashionable Serie A outfit.
Here are three reasons Defrel would be the ideal Rodriguez replacement…
Goals
While Rodriguez scored 15 goals in 33 Premier League appearances in the 2013/14 season, he has struggled to replicate that tally since following a long road to recovery because of the injury suffered at the Etihad.
The 27-year-old netted five top flight goals last season – with the majority of his 24 appearances coming from the substitutes’ bench – and Saints would be hopeful that Defrel could better that tally if he completes a move to St Mary’s.
The French attacker showed his ability in front of goal by netting 12 times in 29 Serie A appearances for Sassuolo last term, while he scored four more during their Europa League campaign.
Pace/Dribbling ability
Before his injury Rodriguez was known for his pace and dribbling ability, but there is no doubt that he has lost some of that speed and control because of his injury problems.
That is where Defrel could be the ideal replacement because as well as being a pacey attacker, he also loves to run at defenders – shown by the fact he successfully completed 27 take-ons in Serie A last season.
Those are traits that can be crucial in the Premier League, especially when you look at the significant impact players such as Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and former Saint Sadio Mane make on a consistent basis.
Versatility
While Defrel has spent the majority of his time with Sassuolo playing as a centre-forward, his pace and dribbling ability also mean that he can play as a secondary striker or out wide.
That is similar to Rodriguez during his prime for Southampton, when he often cut in from the left wing when Rickie Lambert was used as a regular centre-forward.
The fact that the Frenchman is left-footed will also mean that he can play on the left or be able to cut inside from the right flank, which could be extremely useful for a range of different formations.
That versatility is something that is likely to impress Saints and new boss Mauricio Pellegrino, as they look to improve their goal tally next season.
Do you agree, Saints fans? Let us know below.