Southampton: Spurs, Mourinho want Saints defender in summer transfer

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Jannik Vestergaard of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers at St Mary's Stadium on February 14, 2021 in Southampton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Jannik Vestergaard of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers at St Mary's Stadium on February 14, 2021 in Southampton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)

Spurs and Jose Mourinho want to sign Southampton defender Jannik Vestergaard when the summer transfer window arrives.

That is according to a report from the Mirror, who suggest Spurs have made a defensive signing their priority and have the Danish international near the top of their shortlist.

Saints will understandably be keen to hold onto someone who is a key player right now but it remains to be seen whether there will be strong interest shown in Vestergaard once the transfer window opens again.

Despite taking time to adjust to English football, the 28-year-old has improved hugely this season and as become a huge part of Saints’ all-round play.

Southampton’s Danish defender Jannik Vestergaard (C) (Photo by NAOMI BAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Southampton’s Danish defender Jannik Vestergaard (C) (Photo by NAOMI BAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Southampton will be keen to hold onto key asset Vestergaard

Initially, Vestergaard struggled with the pace of Premier League football and was exposed on a number of occasions after his arrival from Borussia Monchengladbach back in 2018.

He fell out of favour with Mark Hughes and then had to work his way back into the plans of current manager Ralph Hasenhuttl after the Austrian’s appointment as manager.

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The 2020/21 season has truly seen Vestergaard show what he can do though.

His passing ability from the backline is used to break opposing lines of defence and he is often seen switching the play perfectly to full-back Kyle Walker-Peters – a key tactic in Saints’ attack during this campaign.

Standing at 6ft 5in too, he is valuable aerially in his own box and the opposition box too. The Dane has scored three goals this season and they have all come from set-piece deliveries as Saints use clever routines to free him up for headers at goal.

It is clear to see why other teams would want to sign this sizeable asset from Saints, and rival clubs could take advantage of his contract situation with his current deal set to expire in June 2022.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl will be equally keen to keep him though as he and others at St Mary’s look to build towards the 2021/22 season.