---
title: "Southampton: Transfer expert believes Dembele not set to join Nathan Jones"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/southampton-transfer-rumours-saints-moussa-dembele-nathan-jones/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Aaron Hindhaugh"
section: "Podcasts"
published: "2023-01-31T10:45:51Z"
modified: "2023-01-31T11:02:20Z"
---

# Southampton: Transfer expert believes Dembele not set to join Nathan Jones

**Ben Jacobs has claimed that [Southampton](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/southampton-fc-news/) target Moussa Dembele isn’t looking likely to join the Saints.**

### The Lowdown: Saints need a new striker

Southampton have managed to [find the back of the net just 17 times in the Premier League](https://www.skysports.com/premier-league-table) this season, so it’s quite surprising that no new striker has walked through the doors this month.

The Saints have recently been linked with moves for players such as [Vitinha](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-southampton-agree-26-2m-vitinha-deal/) and [Dembele](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/moussa-dembele-southampton-transfer-bid-26110193), with the latter potentially being the most financially sensible one as he is set to become a free agent in just a few months.

Therefore, Lyon may yet accept a low fee to ensure they get something for a striker that’s been on their books for several years now who could become a free agent in the summer.

### The Latest: Dembele isn’t convinced

Despite Southampton making moves on Dembele, Jacobs has claimed on his [Twitter Space](https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1OdKrzNmvVVKX?s=20) that the French striker isn’t looking like the club’s next signing, which could be down to the precarious league position.

He said: “I’d heard that Dembele was highly doubtful – ‘not happening’ was how it was referred to by one club source, so that isn’t looking particularly positive, unfortunately.”

### The Verdict: Huge blow for Southampton

If the Saints were to be snubbed by Dembele, while they are also reportedly looking set to miss out on Vitinha with [Brighton set to swoop](https://insidefutbol.com/2023/01/30/brighton-overtake-southampton-in-vitinha-chase-closing-in/593356/) in for the Braga striker, it would be a disaster of a transfer window for Nathan Jones.

Southampton are very poor in the final third and have been relying on James Ward-Prowse to come up with pieces of magic – [as he did against Everton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hNamhTYyHc) – which has allowed them to stay in touch with the rest of the Premier League’s strugglers.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”419212″\]

Dembele could well have been a major coup for Jones and Southampton as he has a pretty good record in front of goal for Lyon, [netting 69 times in 160 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/moussa-dembele/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/229004). He also has plenty of top-flight experience so wouldn’t be overawed by the prospect of regular Premier league football, but it looks set to be yet another blow.