Southampton are keen to complete a double transfer raid on Manchester City for Liam Delap and Gavin Bazunu in the upcoming summer window.
According to The Sun, Southampton are planning a double raid on Manchester City this summer. The Saints are seeking to lure the talented young duo of Liam Delap and Gavin Bazunu to St. Mary’s when the summer transfer window opens.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have shown promise but has also largely struggled to fulfil their potential. The Austrian made a name for himself at RB Leipzig, showing a keen eye for developing young talent. He has shown the same aptitude at Southampton and has brought in some talented young players in recent times.
Chelsea were the affected party last summer as Tino Livramento and Dynel Simeu swapped Stamford Bridge for the South Coast. Armando Broja, too, joined the Saints on loan and has largely thrived as a Premier League regular this season. The Armenian looks set to return to London at the end of the season, meaning the Saints will need to bring in an able replacement.
One such player is Delap. The 19-year-old is the son of former Southampton star Rory Delap and is making waves as a prolific scorer for the Manchester City youth sides. Delap has 35 goals and nine assists in 36 appearances for the Cityzens’ Under-23 side. He has struggled with injuries this season, but the record speaks for itself.
As things stand, Delap’s potential remains untapped, and Southampton would be well advised to make a move. It makes all the more sense given that the Saints will lose Shane Long on a free this summer and Nathan Redmond following in his wake a year later.
Bringing in a player of Delap’s ability will hand Hasenhuttl a long-term project to work on. Southampton can also offer the youngster regular playing time, a luxury at Manchester City especially following the imminent arrival of Erling Haaland in the summer.
The same can be said for Bazunu, who is unlikely to replace Ederson in goal anytime soon. A move will do the 20-year-old good, and Southampton just might be in for a goalkeeper in the summer. Fraser Forster’s contract at St. Mary’s expires next month and as of yet, an extension is yet to be agreed upon.
Curiously Bazunu spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Southampton’s arch-rivals Portsmouth. He was voted the Players’ Player of the Season for his efforts for Pompey, making 46 appearances all campaign. How the Portsmouth faithful will view a potential move to St. Mary’s remains to be seen.
As things stand, both players are one among several options Southampton are considering ahead of the summer window. Time will tell whether they will eventually make the move to St. Mary’s either on loan or permanently.
