Exclusive: Euro club open talks to sign Southampton 26-yr-old

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on:

05 Sep 2020, 12:47 pm

Southampton defender Wesley Hoedt is in talks to join Anderlecht on loan for next season, Football Insider understands.

The 26-year-old, who joined the Saints from Lazio back in 2017, has fallen down the pecking order at St Mary's and has spent the last season-and-a-half out on temporary deals across Europe.

A source at Southampton has told Football Insider that the Dutch centre-back, who spent last season with Royal Antwerp, is in discussions over a move back to Belgium with Anderlecht.

Hoedt made a total of 32 appearances for Southampton during his first season in England, which included playing every minute of all but one of the club's final 20 Premier League games.

However, despite being an ever-present in opening 13 matches of the 2018/19 season, the six-cap Netherlands international was benched in Mark Hughes' final game in charge.

He went on to feature as an unused substitute twice under Ralph Hasenhuttl before he dropped out the matchday squad completely and was sent on loan to Celta Vigo in January.

The former AZ Alkmaar star then spent nearly the entirety of last season with Royal Antwerp and sat out just four of a possible 29 games before the Belgian top flight was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He is now in discussions to join Antwerp's league rivals Anderlecht, who finished four places and 10 points behind his old side last season.

Vincent Kompany's men currently occupy eighth spot in the Belgian Pro League after four games.

In other Southampton news, Darren Bent has urged a manager to bin a player the Saints sold last summer.

Southampton