Southampton are interested in signing Lazio and Greece custodian Christos Mandas, according to Italian daily TuttoMercatoWeb, which also stated that Russell Martin and his team face stiff competition from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
So far this window, the south coast club has added the ideal balance of youth and experience to their team, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Adam Lallana, Ronnie Edwards, and Charlie Taylor all coming.
However, the region between the posts requires further reinforcement. Martin and his crew now have Gavin Bazunu, 22, and Alex McCarthy, 34, at their disposal, but they are still hoping to add another custodian to help ease their return to the top flight.
Southampton Eye Move for Mandas
Mandas, 22, is being watched in the wake of Bazunu’s long-term injury. After rupturing his Achilles tendon during warming up for their Championship match against Preston North End, the Irishman is expected to return in 2025.
Bazunu was Martin’s first choice between the posts for the bulk of 2022/23, playing 3,690 minutes until suffering a season-ending injury. His absence, however, leaves them in a difficult scenario in which the aged McCarthy is their first choice.
As a result, TuttoMercatoWeb reports that Southampton, along with Gary O’Neil’s Wolverhampton Wanderers, are interested in the once-capped Greece international, who struggled for minutes for Lazio in 2023/24.
Across all tournaments, the 2001-born shot-stopper appeared only 14 times, totalling 1,171 minutes, with Ivan Provedel being the preferred choice. His lack of playing time at his Rome-based employers could open the door to a move this summer.
According to FootballItalia, Gary O’Neil’s Wolves have made a substantial offer in the region of £17.09 million (€20 million), which would represent a significant capital gain for Lazio given that they signed the shot-stopper, who has previously been labelled as ‘exceptional’, for less than €1 million.
Mandas’ summer exit appears ‘inevitable’, according to the article, and the Serie A club is already looking for successors, despite the fact that he still has four years on his present contract.
Martin ‘Determined’ to get Fotis Ioannidis Deal Sealed
Southampton and Martin are looking for a new centre forward before their 2024/25 Premier League opener against Newcastle United on Saturday, August 17.
According to bnsports, the Premier League club’s hierarchy is interested in signing Panathinaikos and Greece star Fotis Ioannidis this summer as they prepare for the hardships and tribulations of top-tier existence.
Ioannidis, a key player in his team’s Greek Cup victory last season, scored 23 goals and assisted nine times in 44 appearances across all competitions, demonstrating his prolific tendency in front of goal, something Southampton might benefit from.
According to the aforementioned source, Southampton are preparing a proposal of £26 million (€30 million) for the Athens-born striker, with Leicester City also interested. However, Steve Cooper’s Foxes had already turned down a £23.08 million deal.
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