---
title: "Southampton: Saints offered opportunity to sign Aaron Long"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/southampton-saints-offered-opportunity-to-sign-aaron-long/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Callum Pragnell"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2019-11-19T08:20:52Z"
modified: "2019-11-19T08:20:52Z"
---

# Southampton: Saints offered opportunity to sign Aaron Long

**Southampton have been offered the chance to sign New York Red Bulls and USA centre-back Aaron Long, according to [Sky Sports News](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11700/11863312/southampton-offered-chance-to-sign-usa-defender-aaron-long).**

The 27-year-old – previously of Seattle Sounders – was a target of [West Ham](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11700/11863312/southampton-offered-chance-to-sign-usa-defender-aaron-long) last summer but could not get a work permit in order to complete the switch to the Premier League.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

However, Long is now eligible for a work permit because he has been playing regularly for the United States, scoring in the 4-1 victory over Canada at the weekend.

Ligue 1 giants Marseille are [rumoured](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11700/11863312/southampton-offered-chance-to-sign-usa-defender-aaron-long) to be interested in a January move for Long, who is understood to have a $6m (£4.6m) release clause at NY Red Bulls.

Southampton could swoop for him, though, as they desperately try to tighten up their defence to avoid relegation to the Championship this term.

\[freshpress-poll id=”259530″\]

The Saints have the worst defensive record in the top flight this season, having conceded [29 times](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/table) in just 12 matches. They were thumped 9-0 by Leicester last month and have kept just two clean sheets since the campaign began in early-August (per [Soccerway](https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/southampton-fc/670/matches/)).

Long scored twice in 24 league appearances for NY Red Bulls last term (via [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aaron-long/profil/spieler/271072)) and has now established himself as a regular starter for the US national side – making his [15th appearance](https://www.ussoccer.com/players/l/aaron-long) for his country on Saturday, where he scored his [third](https://www.ussoccer.com/players/l/aaron-long) international goal.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Southampton definitely need to prioritise defensive reinforcements when the January window opens at the start of next year, with Long a decent potential new arrival going off his age, performances for NY Red Bulls and price-tag.

***Saints fans, have you heard much about Long? Let us know by commenting below…***