Southampton set to beat Man Utd to bargain €12m defender deal

Mohammed Salisu

Real Valladolid defender Mohammed Salisu is on the verge of completing a €12m move to Southampton, according to reports.

Salisu has impressed in his first season for the Valladolid first team. Starting 30 times in La Liga, the 21-year-old helped his side to comfortably avoid relegation.

The Ghanaian centre-back has been linked with a swift exit from Valladolid after his rise to prominence over the past year. Manchester United were reportedly willing to meet his €12m release clause so he could replace Victor Lindelof.

The fact that Juan Mata’s father is Salisu’s agent could have helped proceedings. However, United look to have lost the race to another Premier League side. According to Diario La Grada, Salisu is going to join Southampton.

The South Coast side ended the season strongly, finishing 11th in the Premier League. They claimed a draw against United in their penultimate away game, after already beating Manchester City one week earlier.

And as the Saints look to consolidate their position next season, Salisu could be their first reinforcement.

The report claims the defender is going to leave for the value of his release clause, which will represent Valladolid’s largest ever sale. Southampton will also beat competition from Rennes to seal the deal.

Salisu is a left-footed centre-back who first joined Valladolid’s academy in 2017. His contract is due to expire in 2022, but it appears he will be leaving long before then.