Spezia director of football Guido Angelozzi has revealed that Southampton held talks with David Okereke prior to his move to Club Brugge.
In an interview with Belgian news outlet Sport/Foot Magazine, as translated in a report from Sport Witness, Angelozzi discussed the Italian club’s former striker, who made the move to Belgium earlier in the summer transfer window.
Saints had been linked with a move to sign Okereke but opted to land Che Adams from Birmingham City. However, it could have been far different but for work permit issues, Spezia’s director suggests.
When discussing the previous interest in the Nigerian’s signature, Angelozzi said:
Juventus wanted to buy him for their U23s who play in Italy’s third division. Genk were also interested, just like Southampton. The English even came here to talk, and they even had a chat with David, but because he still hadn’t played for the Nigerian first-team, he didn’t get the work permit.
Read Southampton’s verdict
Okereke has the makings of a really good player. He can play as an orthodox striker or off either flank, and has displayed attacking quality both at Spezia and now Club Brugge.
He scored 10 goals in Serie B last season, contributing with six assists for his teammates. The 21-year-old has started as he means to go on in Belgium, also, scoring four goals and grabbing himself an assist in his first three Jupiler Pro League outings.
Southampton appear to have got themselves a high-quality forward in Che Adams, and he has certainly displayed the potential to become an ideal fit for the club, both in the long and short-term. I would suggest that he was the safer, more proven signing of the two in question, but it will certainly be interesting to see how Okereke develops in Bruges.
