According to reports from Mirror Football, Southampton are lining up Feyenoord star Jordy Clasie as a potential replacement for expected-to-depart enforcer Morgan Schneiderlin.
As This Is Futbol revealed earlier this month, some sources believe the France international has already agreed a summer move to Arsenal at the more than reasonable cost of just £15million.
And Saints manager Ronald Koeman is now turning to one of his former club’s most prodigious talents, often referred to as ‘the Dutch Xavi’, to fill Schneiderlin’s void. This season, the 23 year-old playmaker averaged the third-most passes per match of any player in the Eredivisie whilst claiming five assists.
Mirror Football believe the midfielder could be available for around £10million this summer, but Clasie is often mooted as a long-term transfer target of Manchester United, as The Daily Star reported in February.
He performed well during Louis van Gaal’s reign as Netherlands national team manager – and even featured in last summer’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina.
Whether the latest reports will oblige Manchester United to make good on their long-term interest in the midfieler remains to be seen.