Southampton: Saints and Newcastle in for Toulouse defender
By Marc Walker
Southampton are reportedly battling it out with Premier League rivals Newcastle United to sign Toulouse defender Christopher Jullien.
According to a report from Yahoo Sport France – cited here by Get French Football – Southampton are one of two teams to make contact with the Ligue 1 club and have enquired about his availability this summer.
The report also states that the 25-year-old is actively pursuing a move in this window after deciding that the time is right to change clubs for a new challenge.
Saints have been linked with a move for Jullien in the past and could well see him as a the quality addition they need in their defence to finally fill the void left by Virgil Van-Dijk.
He is a strong presence in defence for Toulouse and an aerial threat in the opposition box at a height of 6ft 4in and may add some decisiveness to Mark Hughes’ back-line.
Next: Dusan Tadic linked with Ajax and Geoff Cameron to Saints?
More from Saints Marching
- Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 2: Arrivals
- Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 1: Departures
- It’s time to talk about Gavin Bazunu
- Rain clouds on the horizon? Southampton beat Plymouth Argyle
- A lament for Southampton legend James Ward-Prowse
The Frenchman potentially has leadership qualities too as he was given the captain’s armband in each of his side’s first seven Ligue 1 games in 2017/18.
Like Saints, Jullien was involved in a relegation scrap last season. Toulouse finished in 18th place in Ligue 1 and had to face a play-off match to secure their top-flight status.
They managed overcome Ajaccio by a score of 4-0 on aggregate though and Jullien got his name on the scoresheet in a 3-0 win in the first-leg.
He has played for a variety of clubs in his career so far and could see England as his next step. He began at Auxerre in his homeland before transferring to Freiburg, and had a loan spell at Dijon. His move to Toulouse in 2016 was for a reported £2.5m.
Defensive areas are likely to be strengthened at St Mary’s this summer after a campaign of shakiness at the back, and added creativity is also needed for Saints to move back into the mid-table area of the Premier League table.