Southampton, Leicester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Watford are reportedly in the race to sign Aurelio Buta from Royal Antwerp.
According to claims from Belgian news outlet Gazet van Antwerpen, the 22-year-old has caught the eye with some impressive performances in the Jupiler Pro League.
Buta has already contributed with five assists from right-back this season, and it seems clubs are queuing up to compete for his signature in January.
Leicester appear to only be keen on pursuing the Portuguese defender if Ricardo Pereira departs in the near future, but Saints may well be on the lookout for a new right-back come the turn of the year.
Read Southampton’s verdict
Strengthening the back-line has to be the top priority for Southampton in January, and replacing Cedric Soares is a must.
The 28-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has been in dreadful form of late, which has cost Saints some valuable points.
Buta appears to fit the bill of a typical Southampton signing – his dynamism and productivity going forward is a match for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s style – and it is a move that makes sense on paper.
Having already tapped into the Belgian market in the summer to sign Moussa Djenepo from Standard Liege, recruiting Buta could be another intelligent acquisition.
