Southampton wrapped up the signing of Kevin Danso from FC Augsburg on a season-long loan deal on Deadline Day.
The club confirmed the Austria international’s arrival at St Mary’s Stadium on Friday morning after a last-gasp agreement was reached the night before.
Twitter: #SaintsFC is delighted to announce the signing of @KevinDanso98 on a season-long loan, with an exclusive option to… https://t.co/mQmoY4dZsZ (@SouthamptonFC)
Danso was a regular in the Augsburg team last season, but ahead of the new campaign, he has made a move back to English football after some time at both Reading and MK Dons as a youngster.
The 20-year-old is capable of playing both in central defence and just ahead in holding midfield, but Ralph Hasenhuttl is likely to deploy him in either a back three or four.
So, just who is Kevin Danso, what are his main strengths, and how will he help Southampton this season? I spoke to Bundesliga expert Ronan Murphy, who gave me the lowdown on the new signing.
What are the standout qualities in Danso’s game?
He’s tall and quick, which are ideal traits for a centre-back. He’ll be able to keep up with the Premier League’s fastest players as well being comfortable clearing set pieces and in the air.
And what are his main weaknesses?
Danso is better off the ball than on it. He often plays the simplest ball when he’s in possession as he doesn’t yet possess the full range of passing skills. It’s this reason he’s more likely to play as a centre-back than as a defensive midfielder.
Are you surprised that Augsburg have let him leave?
Unfortunately not. Augsburg are the type of team where players will develop before moving on to better things. They don’t have the resources to compete with the top leagues and top teams.
Just how highly-rated was he in the Bundesliga?
He wasn’t in the top tier of young defenders in the Bundesliga, but the Austria international was probably in the tier below that. He is seen as someone with a lot of potential but is still quite raw.
Do you think he is a good fit for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s approach?
He’ll be familiar with the style Hasenhuttl used at RB Leipzig, having played against them in the Bundesliga, so should be able to adapt more quickly than many other imports. Hasenhuttl should help him improve his passing, just as he did with defenders at Leipzig.
I would like to thank Ronan for his helpful insight into what we can expect from Danso this season. You can find his work on Goal, and follow him on Twitter here: @swearimnotpaul.
