If recent reports are to believed then Southampton have now joined the race with some of the Premier League biggies in landing Championship centre-half Pontus Jansson, who has been quite impressive this season with Leeds United. Among the top English clubs who are vying for his signature are Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, who are also keeping tabs on his situation at the club.
Southampton have had a roller coaster of a season this year with Claude Puel going through numerous bad patches. But the club has come back again and again, with making it to the final of the EFL cup being their highest point. The departure of club captain Jose Fonte midseason to West Ham United owing to contract issues sure took a huge hit and it was immediately followed by their best player Virgil van Dijk’s injury.
Southampton have, however, found their ground now with the club now in the 9th position with two games still less played. If they don’t falter big time in the remaining seven games then a top half finish is guaranteed. The loss of Fonte led Puel to bring in free agent Martin Caceres to fill that role and the huge traction that Van Dijk has gained among European giants means that the South Coast side will have to go for yet another centre-half if that happens.
Jansson could be a great fit for the side given his defensive attributes at the back and with the player’s agent revealing the 26-year-old’s future plans, Southampton have all the more reasons to be encouraged.
Martin Dahlin has stated that the player is willing to try his prowess in the Premier League come what may. Talking to Swedish newspaper Expressen, he said, “He has set his sights on playing in the Premier League next season, that much I can say. Interest is high but you will not get me to say specific clubs. But right now, he focuses solely on Leeds.”
Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean a move out from Leeds as the historic club is a playoff contender this season with a really good chance of qualifying in the Premier League. But, given that Southampton have been scouting him since his Sweden days, they will surely make a move for him this window.
An academy product of Swedish side Malmö, Jansson made his first big switch to Serie A side Torino in 2014, where he stayed for two years. It was last summer that Leeds picked him up and he has been quintessential to their brilliant campaign.
