As per latest reports, Southampton have agreed upon a £18m bid for Borussia Monchengladbach defender, Jannik Vestergaard. The Denmark international was an unused sub for his country in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and is about to become the Saints’ third signing of the summer. Mark Hughes have already acquired Stuart Armstrong and Mohamed Elyounoussi for a joint £23.3m.
Speaking to the press, the manager said, “It’s important fresh faces come in. It’s not necessarily deliberate but as a consequence of players moving on, contracts finishing. It’s good for the whole group just because new faces stimulate the group and players like to show each-other they’re good players. When the new ones come in the ones here already up their game and the new ones want to impress. You’d like to think everything rises as a consequence.”
Vestergaard is understandably Southampton’s attempt at replacing Virgil van Dijk at the heart of their defence. Ever since the Dutchman made his way out of the St Mary’s for a record transfer, the Saints dropped down to a heavy relegation battle towards the end of the 2017/18 season.
Somehow Hughes managed to guide his side to safety in the final two weeks of the campaign. Now, Southampton are stacking up on top-class talents to better their chances of Premier League survival next term.
Vestergaard is a talented defensive ace who has spent his entire career in the German top-flight. He spent his early years with Brondby in the Western outskirts of Copenhagen before tying down a move to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
The 25-year-old made 21 appearances for Die Kraichgauer’s B side before graduating to the club’s senior team. He scored 6 goals and furthered 2 assists in his 5 year stay at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena and featured in 82 games for Hoffenheim.
Other than the 42 caps for Denmark at various youth levels, he has represented the senior team on 16 occasions. Despite being a disciplined centre-half, Vestergaard often delivers with a crucial goal on the offensive end.
He had registered 3 goals in his 34 appearances for Gladbach last season which helped his side to the 9th spot of the Bundesliga.
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The Hvidovre-born defender is a towering presence at 6 feet 7 inches and is set to fight it out with Maya Yoshida, Wesley Hoedt, Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek for playing time in the South Coast.
