Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 8, 2022, VfB Stuttgart's Sasa Kalajdzic shoots at goal.
According to a German source, Southampton are now lining up a move to sign Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic.
The Lowdown: Kalajdzic’s uncertain future
The 24-year-old first joined the Bundesliga outfit from Admira Wacker back in 2019, but only has 12 months left on his current contract at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, meaning that this will be the last opportunity for Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side to cash in.
Stuttgart’s sporting director Sven Mislintat admitted just last month that he will find it difficult to keep hold of the forward amid interest from across Europe, and in a new update, the Saints have been name-checked as just one of the multiple clubs interested in securing his signature.
The Latest: Southampton register interest
In a new article published by German outlet Bild (via Sport Witness), it’s claimed that Southampton are ‘interested’ in Kalajdzic and have ‘joined’ Premier League rivals Brighton in the chase for his services.
Stuttgart are demanding a fee in the region of €25m (£21.5m) for his sale, as they ‘need transfer income’ to help aid financial difficulties.
The report adds that Bayern Munich were also in the race for the Austrian, but that talks between the two parties have ‘stalled’, with interest now coming from the English top-flight.
The Verdict: The whole package
With Armando Broja having returned to parent club Chelsea following the conclusion of his loan spell on the south coast, not to mention the fact that Shane Long is expected to make an exit in the coming weeks, Southampton will be making the hunt for a new striker a priority this window.
Kalajdzic, who was once dubbed a “crazy” aerial threat by journalist Marcel Reif, could be the ideal man to come in and boost Ralph Hasenhuttl’s attacking ranks, having netted six goals and provided two assists in just 15 appearances in an injury-hit season (Transfermarkt).
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Standing at a staggering 6 foot 7, the Vienna-born talent has a huge height advantage up top and so could prove to be a real handful for opposition defenders if he were to make the move to St. Mary’s before the start of the new campaign.
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