Southampton: Celta Vigo want to sign two Saints players this month

Southampton duo Oriol Romeu and Sofiane Boufal have spent a fair amount of time on the bench at St Mary’s recently.

The form of James Ward-Prowse and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has kept the former out of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, whilst the latter has only recently recovered from a toe injury.

However, it appears that both are attracting interest from Spain and La Liga outfit Celta Vigo in particular.

According to a report from Faro de Vigo, Celta are tracking both players and want to add them to their own squad this January.

Romeu knows Spanish football well having come through the Barcelona youth system and represented Spain’s Under-23s, whilst Boufal spent last season on-loan at Celta.

Despite neither player being a regular starter currently, it would be foolish for Saints to let either one go this month.

As mentioned before, Ward-Prowse and Hojbjerg hold the central-midfield positions at the moment but Romeu is the only real option to come in if one of them is unavailable.

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• 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

Youth academy products Callum Slattery and Will Smallbone also have a senior squad number, but it would be unwise to pin too many hopes on on them yet.

Along with Moussa Djenepo, Boufal has been a bright spark in attack for Saints when he has played.

Both players have provided much-needed skill and trickery when playing one-on-one – and Boufal does deserve some credit for coming back and knuckling down since the summer.

Given that faith has been put in him by Hasenhuttl and Saints as a club, the Moroccan needs to be given the rest of the season to further prove his worth.

Saints have been linked with players who could potentially fill the voids left by Romeu and Boufal, but it is unrealistic to suggest that anyone could come in and provide exactly the same qualities that they do.

Given that Hasenhuttl has hinted at minimal signings – with the defence being prioritised anyway – it is unlikely that they would let anyone of note go this January.