According to reports on BBC Football, Everton attacking midfielder Davy Klaassen, who is rated at £16.2m according to Transfermarkt, could be a potential high-profile departure from the club during the January transfer window with the Toffees seemingly willing to cash in on the summer flop.
The Merseyside outfit only signed the attacking midfielder from Ajax in a £23.6m deal in June, but he has struggled to make an impression at Goodison Park under former boss Ronald Koeman and now Sam Allardyce, and he was not even included in the squad – a recurring theme – for the 2-1 defeat against Liverpool in the FA Cup third round at Anfield on Friday night.
BBC Football hints that Everton will want to recoup most of the amount they paid for the 24-year-old if they are to cash in on him this month, which could put an exit in doubt as there won’t be many clubs that will be willing to offer them that much.
Meanwhile, Southampton are looking to strengthen their squad following the £75m sale of Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool at the start of the month, and they are in desperate need of doing so as they are only currently above the Premier League relegation zone following a disappointing campaign under Mauricio Pellegrino.
Scoring and creating goals has once again been an issue for the south coast outfit, and bringing Klaassen to St Mary’s before January 31 could prove to be a shrewd move.
Here are three reasons Southampton must sign the out of favour Everton star…
They need a new No 10
Southampton’s poor form in front of goal has carried on from last season into this, and they have netted just 21 goals in 22 Premier League matches so far this term.
It is clear to see that the attacking midfielders aren’t chipping in with enough goals and assists behind the striker, with Dusan Tadic – who is often handed the No 10 role in Mauricio Pellegrino’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation – only assisting three goals in his last 31 top flight appearances.
That record isn’t good enough and Saints need a player who can make more of an impact behind the striker, and perhaps bring out the best of the likes of Manolo Gabbiadini and Shane Long ahead of them, and Klaassen could be the answer.
Goals and assists
While he has struggled to make an impact during his time with Everton, you do have to wonder why when you look back at his time with Ajax.
Last season, the 24-year-old scored 20 goals and provided a further 12 assists in 50 appearances in all competitions for the Dutch giants, to show how dangerous he can be in the final third.
While the Premier League is a different kettle of fish to the Eredivisie, you would have to think that Klaassen will shine in the English top flight if he is given a regular run in the No 10 position – something that could be possible at St Mary’s.
Southampton could be a better fit for him
One of Klaassen’s biggest problems since he moved to Everton is probably the fact that the Toffees also signed Wayne Rooney and Gylfi Sigurdsson during the summer, with the duo also preferring to play in the Dutchman’s preferred role centrally.
The 24-year-old often found himself pushed out wide and as he isn’t blessed with much pace, it didn’t suit him and he struggled to make an impact in a team that was shot of confidence and only heading downwards before Sam Allardyce took over.
With his future at Goodison Park in doubt, Southampton could attempt to bring Klaassen to the south coast in January, and it would be no surprise if the south coast outfit turned out to be a better fit for his style of play.
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