Jean-Kevin Augustin would be the perfect summer business for Southampton
According to the Daily Mail, Southampton are keen to make a fresh offer for RB Leipzig striker Jean-Kevin Augustin in the summer after their pursuit of the French youth international ended in failure in January.
The former PSG star, who is rated at £35million by Leipzig, was a target for Everton, West Ham and Southampton in January but the Bundesliga outfit blocked all approaches for the youngster. However, with Augustin not hitting top gear in the Bundesliga this season, Leipzig might be tempted to cash in on one of their highly-rated young prospects. (h/t Daily Mail)
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl worked with the Frenchman during his time at RB Leipzig, with Augustin scoring 12 goals from 37 appearances last season. The youngster, however, has scored only thrice in the Bundesliga this term and has failed to make it to the first-team regularly due to stiff competition from Yussuf Poulsen and Timo Werner.
Meanwhile, Southampton should start looking for options to bolster their attack in the summer. The Saints have struggled to hit the ground running in the Premier League this season and they currently find themselves languishing in the bottom half, just a couple of points clear of the relegation zone. Southampton have a dismal goalscoring record this term, having scored only 30 goals from 28 games, the sixth lowest tally in the division.
Liverpool loanee Danny Ings has been too inconsistent while Charlie Austin and Shane Long have been nothing but spectators in the final third. Youngster Michael Obafemi has shown some promise but the Saints need a pacy and powerful attacker to add that cutting edge to their attack. Summer recruit Mohamed Elyounoussi has flopped big time at St.Mary’s, which further epitomises the need for investment in new attackers.
And Jean-Kevin Augustin, with his pace, flair, athleticism, aggression and eye for goal, certainly has all the attributes to fit in perfectly at Southampton. The 21-year-old excels with his pace and trickery on the ball, whilst his subtle movement, ability to run in behind the opposition’s backline and powerful long-range shooting can also be invaluable assets to a team that has struggled to score goals.
Augustin can also add a lot to the team in terms of versatility. While he is essentially a centre-forward by trade, Augustin has also been used as a wide forward on either side due to his ability to cut inside from the flanks and create chances. Furthermore, his experience of playing European football and working under Hasenhuttl can prove to be handy for the Saints in the longer run.
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Southampton have had little luck with their big-money signings in recent times, with the likes of Guido Carrillo, Dani Osvaldo and Sofiane Boufal all failing to live up to the expectations. However, taking Augustin’s talent and potential into consideration, it would be a wise move for the Saints to invest heavily in the French youth international in a bid to solve their goalscoring woes.
