Southampton has seemingly wasted little time in securing a direct replacement for the soon-to-be departed Mateus Fernandes.
The Portuguese man is poised to join West Ham United in a deal set to be worth £40million to the Saints.
The St Mary’s club has reportedly negotiated a fee with FC Nürnberg for their midfielder Caspar Jander.
According to Sky Sports, Lyall Thomas, the Germany under-21 international, will cost Will Still’s side just north of £10million.
Jander is due on the South Coast for a medical as they race to have him ready to face Watford at the weekend.
Southampton Act Swiftly to Replace Fernandes
The Saints have been decisive in their efforts to compensate for the exit of Mateus Fernandes. It felt like an inevitability that Premier League clubs would come calling after his impressive stint in a struggling team last season.
With West Ham United making their move in an attempt to arrest their dreadful start to the campaign, Will Still is looking elsewhere.
It’s shaping up to be a whirlwind week at St Mary’s with a host of fresh faces set to sign up. As well as the imminent arrival of Jander, there are deals in place to sign Finn Azaz and Tom Fellows from Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion, respectively.
With a substantial transfer package for Fernandes on the way, the club is focused on reinvesting it wisely.
They are backing their ambitious young head coach as he seeks to mount a promotion charge and secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
How Has Jander Fared So Far?
Despite still being just 22-years-old, Caspar Jander has amassed a wealth of experience playing in the second and third tiers of German football.
He has made 99 senior appearances for MSV Duisburg and his current club FC Nürnberg.
Jander has made his name as a combative and ball-winning midfielder, with an eye for creating chances for his teammates. He scored three times himself and contributed nine assists in the 2. Bundesliga last term.
As he prepares to make the switch to the EFL Championship, the highly rated German will join a side with a clearly defined goal in mind. An instant return to the Premier League is firmly on the Saints’ agenda.
Can He Fill The Fernandes Void?
Southampton’s quick response to losing the considerable influence of Mateus Fernandes is a testament to their lofty ambitions this season.
To have a like-for-like alternative lined up, in amongst the chaos of the impending transfer deadline, is particularly shrewd thinking from Saints officials.
The standout figure from last season’s relegated team’s was always going to emerge on the radar of first-tier clubs. The 21-year-old could be set for a similar relegation battle, judging by Graham Potter’s difficult start to the campaign.
The main similarity between the two players is their age, and more specifically, their scope for improvement. His impressive numbers have undoubtedly piqued the interest of the Southampton scouting team.
If he can maintain his well-documented attacking prowess and adapt to the Championship’s physicality, he should more than justify the sizeable transfer fee.