---
title: "Southampton: Duje Caleta-Car ‘on the shortlist’ at St Mary’s"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/southampton-duje-caleta-car-jan-bednarek-transfer-gossip-news-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Clubbe"
section: "Premier League News"
published: "2022-08-29T20:10:47Z"
modified: "2022-08-29T20:10:47Z"
---

# Southampton: Duje Caleta-Car ‘on the shortlist’ at St Mary’s

**[Southampton](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/southampton-fc-news/) have reportedly placed Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car ‘on the shortlist’ of transfer options, according to reputable journalist [Sacha Tavolieri](https://twitter.com/sachatavolieri/status/1564194866388664320).**

### The lowdown: Previous English interest

[Signed](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/duje-caleta-car/transfers/spieler/238266) from Austrian Bundesliga outfit Red Bull Salzburg for £17.1m in 2018, Caleta-Car has been nothing short of a revelation in France.

The 25-year-old Croatia international has amassed [130 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/duje-caleta-car/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/238266) for the Ligue 1 outfit and had previously attracted interest from both [Liverpool](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/12220127/duje-caleta-car-marseille-defender-reveals-he-almost-joined-liverpool-in-january-transfer-window) and [Newcastle United](https://www.90min.com/posts/duje-caleta-car-among-newcastle-alternatives-to-diego-carlos), coming [very close](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/12220127/duje-caleta-car-marseille-defender-reveals-he-almost-joined-liverpool-in-january-transfer-window) to joining the former in January 2021.

However, those moves failed to materialise, and it now appears as though the Saints could be about to make their intentions known for Caleta-Car as Jan Bednarek reportedly [nears](https://www.birminghamworld.uk/sport/football/aston-villa/aston-villa-very-close-to-agreeing-deal-for-international-defender-3820927) the exit door at St Mary’s…

### The latest: ‘On the shortlist’

Taking to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/sachatavolieri/status/1564194866388664320), Tavolieri has claimed that the [23-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/duje-caleta-car/nationalmannschaft/spieler/238266/verein_id/3556) Croatia defender is on the radar at Southampton.

The [RMC Sport](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interview-sacha-tavolieri-rmc-sur-la-s%C3%A9lection-belge/id1381433804?i=1000418449184) reporter stated: “Info #OM : #SouthamptonFC thinks of Duje #CaletaCar to replace the probable departure of Jan #Bednarek ! The defender is on the shortlist of #saintsfc who is already discussing with his representatives. To be continued.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”398360″\]

### The verdict: Smart move

Valued at £14.4m and into the final 12 months of his contract in France ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/duje-caleta-car/marktwertverlauf/spieler/238266)), any last-minute deal for the Croatian should be a wholly affordable one for Southampton. It would also be a significant statement of intent in order to replace Bednarek, who is [on the verge of](https://www.birminghamworld.uk/sport/football/aston-villa/aston-villa-very-close-to-agreeing-deal-for-international-defender-3820927) agreeing a deal to join Aston Villa.

Caleta-Car – who was labelled as an [‘excellent player’](https://talksport.com/football/1027773/west-ham-transfer-news-croatia-duje-caleta-car-marseille/) by talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook – [scored twice](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/duje-caleta-car/leistungsdaten/spieler/238266/plus/0?saison=2021)and provided [one assist](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/duje-caleta-car/leistungsdaten/spieler/238266/plus/0?saison=2021) in 38 appearances across all competitions last season, earning a 6.96 [SofaScore](https://www.sofascore.com/player/duje-caleta-car/257091) rating whilst winning 2.4 duels and making 2.1 clearances per game and completing 92% of his passes.

Sharing similar stylistic traits to Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias and Pau Torres ([FBref](https://fbref.com/en/players/94f8d10c/Duje-Caleta-Car)), this is a prospective signing which should certainly stand Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad in impressive stead for the 2022/23 campaign and could help to firm up a previously [leaky](https://theathletic.com/3494389/2022/08/24/southampton-back-four-3-5-2/) defence.