Southampton know from experience just how cruel the transfer market can be. If things had worked out differently last August, both Cody Gakpo and Goncalo Ramos could now be struggling their stuff in red-and-white.
Instead, Gakpo is now at Liverpool, joining in a £37 million deal from PSV Eindhoven. Ramos, meanwhile, could set the likes of Manchester United or Paris Saint-Germain back around £100 million after scoring 24 goals this season for Champions League quarter-finalists Benfica. Not to mention that World Cup hat-trick.
But it’s not just in the final third where Southampton are counting the cost of previous transfer misses. According to La Provence, the Saints were ‘very close’ to signing Axel Disasi from Reims during the summer of 2020.
Wolves also missed out (L’Equipe); a £13 million bid falling short before Monaco snapped up one of the most highly-rated young centre-halves in a nation renowned for, well, highly-rated young centre-halves.
Wolves and Southampton wanted Manchester United target Axel Disasi
Three years on, Disasi’s price-tag stands closer to £45 million (Daily Mail). Manchester United have identified the now-25-year-old France international as a man capable of taking Erik ten Hag’s upwardly-mobile side to another level.
Disasi, who has captained Monaco on a number of occasions this term, has scored five goals and set up four more in 2022/23; a major presence in both boxes. Disasi has shone at right-back too. That versatility will only appeal to Ten Hag.
“When I see Axel (Disasi) now compared to a year ago, there is a big difference,” beams Monaco coach Philippe Clement, hailing the defender’s transformation form up-and-coming prospect into a leader at one of France’s biggest clubs (L’Equipe).
“It is interesting for the future, because he’s very motivated to work on it (his leadership skills).”
Technically-gifted, versatile, excellent in both boxes and a leader too? You can see why Manchester United like him. You can see why both Southampton and Wolves liked him too, long before Disasi’s price-tag rose from £13 million to £45 million.
In other news, Newcastle have a “special” 18-year-old who has now been certified as one of the world’s best
