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Southampton: Five centre-backs the Saints could replace VVD with

By Chris Hughes

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates victory after the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield on January 5, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates victory after the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield on January 5, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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LEICESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 19: Eliaquim Mangala of Manchester City during the Carabao Cup Quarter-Final match between Leicester City and Manchester City at The King Power Stadium on December 19, 2017 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 19: Eliaquim Mangala of Manchester City during the Carabao Cup Quarter-Final match between Leicester City and Manchester City at The King Power Stadium on December 19, 2017 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

Eliaquim Mangala

Certainly an outside shout, Mangala could be moved on before the window is over and Southampton should definitely make their interest known if he does get shopped.

Manchester City are reportedly keen on bringing in Aymeric Laporte for a whopping 60 million euros despite already having four first-team centre-backs on their books. With both Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones enjoying good seasons and Vincent Kompany being a club legend, Mangala seems the obvious option.

The 26-year-old spent last season out on loan at Valencia having failed to make his mark after his move from Porto, but this campaign was brought back into the first team but Pep Guardiola.

Whilst a move to the Saints might not seem appealing to someone with European experience, we saw both Kurt Zouma and Kevin Wimmer leave top teams for Stoke City over the summer, so anything is possible, even if it’s just a loan.

Aside from high wages, the only possible stumbling block would be that the Citizens have both left-backs injured meaning Mangala may be drafted in to cover.