da marjack bet： According to reports in The Sun, Southampton are hoping to beat a number of their Premier League rivals to sign £8.75m-rated Caen winger and France Under-21 international Yann Karamoh, but the 18-year-old’s contract dispute with his club will need to be sorted first.
What’s the word, then?
da dobrowin： Well, The Sun says the youngster has just a year left on his contract and as he is looking unlikely to sign a new one, the Ligue 1 outfit are keen to sell him this summer to avoid losing him for free next year.
However, the report adds that the player’s lawyer has advised him to instead run down the final year of his deal to maximise his opportunities when he is available for nothing next summer.
But a number of Premier League clubs, including Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal are interested in the French teenager, although Southampton are leading the race to bring him to England, according to The Sun.
How did he do last season?
Karamoh only made his debut for the Caen first team last August, and despite his tender years he played a key role in helping them avoid relegation to Ligue 2 last term.
The 18-year-old, who primarily plays on the right wing but has also played on the left and as a centre-forward during his short Caen career, scored five goals and provided a further four assists in 35 Ligue 1 appearances.
Would he be a good signing for Southampton?
While he is – quite understandably because of his age – not the finished article, Karamoh certainly showed last year that he has huge potential to achieve big things in his career if he continues to develop in the right way.
That is something Saints can help him with if he moves to the south coast outfit, as they have shown they are willing to give young players regular playing time in the Premier League.
Southampton were missing that exciting, attacking spark at times last season without Sadio Mane, and they may feel that the 18-year-old could be the unpredictable forward that loves to run at defenders that they didn’t really have last term, especially after Jay Rodriguez joined West Brom on Sunday.
What’s the verdict, then?
Well, Southampton have been known to find gems around Europe before selling them on for big fees in recent years, and if they get Karamoh for £8.75m this summer and develop him in the right way, he could be worth an awful lot more in one or two years’ time.
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