Why Mohammed Salisu would be an excellent signing for Southampton
According to Sky Sports, Southampton are interested in signing the Real Valladolid centre-back Mohammed Salisu.
Mohammed Salisu, 20, made his debut for Real Valladolid this season after replacing Fernando Calero, who was sold to Espanyol last summer. He has made 18 appearances so far this season, scoring a goal.
The central defender’s contract at Valladolid runs through until 2022 having been penned back in May, while he is yet to be capped for the Ghana national team.
The 20-year-old, who has a £10.2m buyout clause, has also caught the attention of a number of clubs other than Southampton, the report adds.
The Saints, meanwhile, are suddenly looking up towards the mid-table after earning well-deserved victories over Aston Villa, Chelsea and Tottenham. They have probably started peaking at the right time and are now five points above the relegation zone.
But as Southampton have the second-worst defensive record in the division, manager Ralph Hasenhuttl should reinforce his defence this month. Jack Stephens has been excellent over the last few weeks, performing really well next to Jan Bednarek at the back.
Consistency is key to success and Hasenhuttl needs the Bednarek-Stephens partnership to continue blossoming.
However, with the Saints lacking depth in that area and Werder Bremen keen on re-signing Jannik Vestergaard (h/t Sky Sports) this month, Hasenhuttl must improve his options at the back by signing the young Mohammed Salisu.
Salisu is one of the rising stars of La Liga this season, playing an integral role in the Real Valladolid backline during the first phase of the campaign. Standing at 6ft 3in tall, the 20-year-old is a strong, powerful and technically gifted defender who can comfortably bring the ball out from the back.
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The Ghanaian’s ability to play the ball out from the back should complement the rather robust, no-nonsense nature of defenders like Bednarek and Stephens, thus adding another dimension to the Saints defence.
In the video below, one can get a glimpse of Salisu’s defending this season and the qualities he could bring to St. Mary’s if a deal goes through.
Verdict
Although the youngster is likely to take some time in integrating himself to the fast-paced nature of English football, Salisu, no doubt, has the talent to become an ever-present figure in the Southampton backline.
With an excellent track record of helping technically-gifted youngsters realize their potential, Hasenhuttl could unearth a gem in the Valladolid starlet.
