Sources: Southampton in advanced talks to sign Marseille star Duje Caleta-Car
Southampton are in advanced talks to sign Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car on a permanent deal, sources have told Football Insider.
The Croatian has been lined up as a replacement for Jan Bednarek.
West Ham have agreed a deal to sign Bednarek after hijacking Aston Villa’s talks to land him.
The Saints have lined up Caleta-Car, 25, ironically previously a target for the Irons, as a full-time replacement.
Get French Football News (30 January) reported that West Ham were in ‘advanced talks’ for the defender with an ‘agreement due in the coming hours’.
The central defender has only made one appearance this season, coming off the bench for the final seven minutes of his side’s 2-1 win over Nantes on 8 August.
He was a key player for Marseille last season, making 26 league appearances with 24 of those being starts.
Caleta-Car joined the French side in the summer of 2018 and has made a total of 129 appearances for the club.
He also has 23 Croatia caps to his name as well as one international goal.
The defender could become the Saints’ seventh arrival of the summer after the captures of Joe Aribo, Gavin Bazunu, Sekou Mara, Romeo Lavia, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Mateusz Lis.
Bednarek is set to sign for West Ham as a replacement for Craig Dawson, who is, according to Sky Sports, in advanced talks to join Wolves.
Southampton beat Chelsea 2-1 on Tuesday (30 August) as they registered their second win of the Premier League season.
The Saints are next in action against Wolves on Saturday (3 August).
In other news, sources have told this site that Angers have submitted an offer for Southampton star Yan Valery.