Southampton preparing Saponara bid
According to Gazzetta World, Southampton are preparing a late bid for Empoli midfielder Riccardo Saponara.
The report says that Claude Puel’s side are preparing a bid for the midfielder in the coming days, with a transfer possible before the deadline on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old ex-Milan midfielder was in good form last season for the Serie A club; scoring five goals in 33 games. This good form has attracted interest from Southampton.
He really made a name for himself at Empoli, scoring 12 times in 83 league matches before hitting 21-years-old. This earned him a move to Italian giants AC Milan but just eight league appearances in almost two years ended in him rejoining Empoli at the start of this year.
So, despite failing to make the grade at AC Milan, his current form for Empoli has convinced a host of Premier League sides that he has what it takes to cut it in the English top-flight; Southampton being one of those sides.