Saints Marching
Fansided

Southampton: Saints reportedly keen on Rachid Ghezzal

By Chris Hughes

METZ, FRANCE - AUGUST 31: Rachid Ghezzal of Lyon in action during the French Ligue 1 match between FC Metz and Olympique Lyonnais at Stade Saint-Symphorien on August 31, 2014 in Metz, France. (Photo by Kaz Photography/Getty Images)
METZ, FRANCE - AUGUST 31: Rachid Ghezzal of Lyon in action during the French Ligue 1 match between FC Metz and Olympique Lyonnais at Stade Saint-Symphorien on August 31, 2014 in Metz, France. (Photo by Kaz Photography/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

In their bid to replace the pace and creativity lost by loaning out Sofiane Boufal, Southampton are apparently keen on Rachid Ghezzal.

One source is exclusively reporting that the Saints are keen on the Algerian winger, who has struggled for consistent form after joining Monaco last summer on a free transfer from Lyon.

Southampton fans will understandably be apprehensive to see their club sign a player from the French side again, with Guido Carrillo having majorly flopped in his six months on the south coast following a record move from Monaco in January.

The report also doesn’t state how much the Saints would be looking to spend on the winger, however his stock has drastically dropped in the past year and his current Transfermarkt value is only £3.6 million after he found the back of the net just twice last year.

However, he remains a tricky winger who is a great dribbler and passer of the ball, meaning he would offer something different down that right side to Nathan Redmond, who is more of a direct player.

Next: What further business could Southampton do this summer?

TURIN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Rachid Ghezzal (R) of Olympique Lyonnais in action against Patrice Evra of Juventus during the UEFA Champions League Group H match between Juventus and Olympique Lyonnais at Juventus Stadium on November 2, 2016 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Rachid Ghezzal (R) of Olympique Lyonnais in action against Patrice Evra of Juventus during the UEFA Champions League Group H match between Juventus and Olympique Lyonnais at Juventus Stadium on November 2, 2016 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) /

Ghezzal is a winger that the Saints have had tabs on for some time, having reportedly scouted him during the most lucrative season of his career back in 2016, where he scored ten times in all competitions for Lyon.

More from Saints Marching

However, in total from just under 130 competitive appearances, the Algerian international has just 14 goals to his names – a bleak record when you take out the return from the aforementioned 2015/16 campaign as well.

Furthermore with the Saints looking set to run creatively through Mohamed Elyounoussi, it seemed like it might’ve been wise for the club to actually go for another winger like Redmond.

That’s why a lot of supporters – myself included – saw reported target Filip Kostic as the perfect candidate for the void, as he boasts a lot more natural pace and has a marginally better goal record than Ghezzal.

However the fact that the Saints appear to be targeting wingers following Boufal’s loan to Celta Vigo is a good thing, whatever the truth in all these rumours. Just an hour or two ago one Italian source began to link the Saints with Yerry Mina, but said article has since changed it to state that Wolves were instead the interested party. Make of that what you will.

However the Saints don’t really need another centre-back following Jannik Vestergaard’s arrival, especially as Ryan Bertrand can fill in as the left of the three if and when required.

A winger however, alongside a striker, remains a necessity for Southampton before the new season starts, which is less than a month away now.

Home/Transfer Rumors