Southampton have registered interest in PSV Eindhoven attacker and last season’s Bundesliga star Ritsu Doan.
According to Calciomercato, Southampton have joined the race to sign Ritsu Doan. The PSV Eindhoven attacker has popped up on the radar of the Premier League outfit and could be on the verge of a move away from the Eredivisie.
A native of Amagasaki, Doan arrived in Europe in 2017, joining the Groningen academy. He went on to join PSV in 2019, though his biggest breakthrough came during the 2020/21 loan spell at Arminia Bielefeld.
In 34 Bundesliga matches, the Japanese international was involved in eight goals. His numbers were not particularly eye-catching, but it ended up playing a valuable role in helping the club retain their top-flight status at the expense of giants like FC Schalke and Werder Bremen.
Doan started the new season well with PSV, but a knee injury halted his progress. He did return to action earlier this month, notably starring in the win over Fortuna Sittard. His performances in Bundesliga and, most recently, the Eredivisie have now caught the attention of Southampton.
The Saints are in the market for attacking reinforcements in the upcoming January transfer window. In the summer, they had to part ways with star player Nathan Redmond while Mohamed Elyounoussi faces an uncertain future at the club. The former FC Basel winger was even linked with a move to Arsenal last month.
Hence, Southampton could certainly use the addition of a fresh face in the attacking department. They were reportedly keen on Sassuolo forward Filip Djuricic, but in Doan, coach Ralph Hasenhuttl could land himself a raw talent who is capable of becoming an asset in the Premier League.
The 23-year-old has already shown flashes of his quality in the Bundesliga, helping Arminia Bielefeld survive the wrath of relegation. The winger could thrive under Hasenhuttl as well, as the Austrian tactician employs a similar counter-attacking approach, where Doan can act as the catalyst in the final third.
However, it remains to be seen whether PSV opt to cash in on their attacking asset anytime soon. The Dutch giants have lost Donyell Malen in the summer, while Noni Madueke’s long-term future is not guaranteed either. As such, they might want to keep hold of the services of the Japanese international, especially if he can finally prove himself in the Eredivisie this season.
