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Southampton: Saints interested in defender Omar Elabdellaoui

By Ryan Borowski

Olympiakos' Moroccan forward Youssef El-Arabi (R) celebrates scoring a penalty with Olympiakos' Norwegian defender Omar Elabdellaoui during UEFA Champions League during the Group B football match between Olympiacos FC and FK Crvena zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, near Athens, on December 11, 2019. (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Olympiakos' Moroccan forward Youssef El-Arabi (R) celebrates scoring a penalty with Olympiakos' Norwegian defender Omar Elabdellaoui during UEFA Champions League during the Group B football match between Olympiacos FC and FK Crvena zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, near Athens, on December 11, 2019. (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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The Olympiacos defender will become a free agent at the end of the season and could potential sign for a new club in the summer if no contract is reached.

The 28-year-old has made 46 appearances for club and country this season with most of the appearances happening on the right side of a back four. He is also capable of playing in the midfield but prefers to play in the right-back position.

If Southampton are to pursue Elabdellaoui, they will face competition from Burnley to sign the player in the summer. If the cub is able to sign him on a free transfer I do not see why they would not pursue him.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 27: Goalscorer Youssef El Arabi of Olympiakos (L) celebrates with team mate Omar Elabdellaoui during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC at Emirates Stadium on February 27, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 27: Goalscorer Youssef El Arabi of Olympiakos (L) celebrates with team mate Omar Elabdellaoui during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC at Emirates Stadium on February 27, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /

The Saints, are very thin depth-wise when it comes to their full-backs and an experienced player like Elabdellaoui would only help the team.

I believe the future at right-back will either be Walker-Peters or Valery but as I mentioned in the paragraph above having some depth is never a bad thing.

On the other hand, Hasenhuttl has mentioned he only wants players 24 years or younger because he wants to be able to develop them the way he wants and have them really learn his system.

In my opinion, this summer will be crucial in how Hasenuttl’s career at Southampton will go. It will be his second full season in charge and fans will want to see concrete steps taken towards becoming a top team again.

Next. Quiz: Southampton’s top 15 Premier League appearance makers. dark

We will continue to keep you updated on all the Saints transfer rumors during this time.

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