Southampton have “practically” closed a deal to sign Polish goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski from Fiorentina, according to Corriere dello Sport reporter Alfredo Pedulla.
The Italian journalist claimed via his personal website on Saturday that “in the last few hours”, Southampton have come “out into the open” and pushed forward in their bid to sign the 21-year-old shot-stopper.
It is understood that the Saints are on the verge of an agreement with Fiorentina to sign Dragowski in a deal worth £8.9million, plus bonuses.
Good move for Southampton?
Dragowski is a good young goalkeeper who had an impressive second half of the season after he was loaned out to Empoli in the January transfer window.
He kept three clean sheets in 14 appearances across all competitions as his temporary club just about avoided relegation from Serie A.
The 6ft 3 [transfermarkt] colossus is a good young goalkeeper with a lot of potential, but do Southampton really need another goalkeeper when they are already well-stocked in that position?
Southampton already have Alex McCarthy and Angus Gunn, who are both good enough to play every week in the Premier League if they are called upon by Ralph Hasenhuttl.
They also have Fraser Forster, who has been linked with leaving St Mary’s this season, and Jack Rose, who is more than good enough to be a third-choice goalkeeper next season.
Southampton would be wasting a lot of money on a player they don’t need if they are pushing forward with this deal for Dragowski, unless Hasenhuttl is planning to offload a couple of his current shot-stoppers.
This is Futbol rating 3/10
Likely to happen?
It is hard to see Hasenhuttl spending over £8million on adding a player to the squad that he really does not need.
If there is one area of the Southampton squad that does not need improving, it is the goalkeepers.
However Pedulla’s report claims that the deal is close, so it remains to be seen how this one plays out.
This is Futbol rating 4/10