Southampton enter into transfer race for this surprise January target

The summer transfer window has been barely been shut for a couple of weeks and yet the transfer rumours keep coming.

Indeed, Southampton have been tipped in recent times to make moves for a whole host of European imports, when the drama of the January window reopens, with Dimitris Kaloskamis allegedly on their radar from AEK Athens.

Now, a new report is suggesting that they will cast their net out to Scandinavia, as a surprise midfield target appears on their shopping list.

Southampton tracking Norwegian star

As per a report from transfer publication On The Minute, Southampton, alongside Bristol City, are keeping tabs on Kristoffer Askildsen at Norwegian outfit Viking over a possible move in the near future.

The report states that neither club have made a concrete move as of yet, but the second tier clubs named are assessing his profile currently, ahead of potentially swooping him in for his services down the line.

The transfer account ends by stating that "a strong final stretch of the Eliteserien campaign" for Askildsen could be what accelerates a move into motion in January, with the Oslo-born midfielder deep in the middle of his top-flight campaign for the reigning champions.

This does have the feel of being a legitimate rumour, as the South Coast giants love unearthing a gem from Europe, as seen in Leo Scienza becoming a terrifying Championship attacker, a year or so from playing for Heidenheim.

Delving further into Askildsen as a player, it also feels like a deal worth exploring, as he's been highly rated in his homeland for some time now.

Would he be a signing worth exploring?

Askildsen has now entered his second full season with Viking in the Norwegian top division and he's a regular in the starting XI.

Minus missing one game due to a suspension, he has been ever-present as the Stavanger-based outfit have continued to pick up wins for fun all season long, with the 25-year-old chipping in with five goals and two assists in league action for 2026, to stand out as a being an attacking force centrally similar to the departed Shea Charles.

He also has Flynn Downes' tenacity built into his well-rounded game, with 5.8 duels won on average this season, as Viking attempt to win back-to-back Eliteseren titles.

As Ben Wells has previously put it, who is a Norwegian football analyst, the 6-foot-3 battler is "energetic box-to-box midfield player" who is "robust in the tackle and confident on the ball."

He doesn't appear to have a visible flaw, as he is very calm and composed with the ball at his feet - like the iconic James Ward-Prowse at Eckert's disposal - with four big chances created this campaign so far from the middle of the park.

Another plus on Askildsen's side is that he has played outside of his home country before, so he wouldn't be taken aback by adjusting to a new climate moving to England, having previously lined up for Sampdoria 53 times, alongside featuring for FC Midtjylland in nearby Denmark.

Askildsen's well-travelled career:

It remains to be seen whether Askildsen would be tempted by a switch to the Championship, as his current employers have just recently qualified for the Champions League, which is very much the pinnacle for any footballer.

But, the potential to perform in the Premier League will be equally tantalising for the Viking number seven, and he could possibly play his part in the Saints' promotion story if he seals a shock mid-season move to St. Mary's.

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