“Agent Vestergaard”: Saints defender pictured on holiday with Delaney

Southampton defender Jannik Vestergaard has been pictured on holiday with rumoured Saints transfer target Thomas Delaney.

Both players are enjoying some down time after their exploits for at Euro 2020 in which they both played in all six matches at the tournament as Denmark reach the Semi-Finals.

Delaney was linked to Saints back in June but rumours of a move for him have since gone quiet, and Saints look to have sufficient options in central-midfield when depth is compared to other areas of their squad.

Vestergaard has been linked with a move of his own this summer. Spurs look to be most heavily interested in him with just one-year remaining on his current Saints contract.

Southampton need key players like Vestergaard to stay

To have the best chance of a strong improvement on their results from last season, Saints need players like Jannik Vestergaard to stay for at least one more season.

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

You can also throw Danny Ings, James Ward-Prowse, Oriol Romeu and Stuart Armstrong into this category as they make up the strongest spine of the current team under Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Of all the players in the current first-team group though, Vestergaard is perhaps one of the most unique in the way he plays.

As a two-footed defender who is a valuable weapon when building attacks from defence, the Dane was a big part of Saints’ early season success because of his passing range, reading of the game and aerial prowess in both boxes.

It is clear to see why some other clubs are interested in signing him, but it would be hard for Saints to find an exact replacement for him.

Mohammed Salisu looks ready to step in to defence if Vestergaard departs but the Ghanaian is still a very different player, as are Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens.

All the options that the club has at the moment mean that playing with a back three or four is easy, and this could change if Vestergaard was to depart given that he is the most natural man to take the central role in a back three system.