Premier League side Southampton consider Strasbourg’s €25m valuation of Mohamed Simakan to be too high, according to a report on the Guardian.
The Ligue 1 defender has attracted interest from numerous Premier League clubs, including Crystal Palace, Watford and the Saints.
However, the 19-year-old’s price tag could end up being a problem for all the clubs interested in securing his signature.
Simakan is a versatile defender and can operate either as a full-back or a centre-back. The teenager has made 14 Ligue 1 appearances this season and also impressed during the UEFA Europa League.
READ SOUTHAMPTON VERDICT
€25m for a teenager is always going to seem too high, especially for lower half Premier League clubs like Southampton.
However, signing Simakan could prove to be useful for Ralph Hasenhuttl. This is because Cedric Soares has been disappointing this season and is set to leave at the end of the campaign, meaning Hasenhuttl will need to recruit a right-back.
This makes Simakan an attractive target, especially because Hasenhuttl loves developing young players.
It seems like too much money to spend for the struggling side in January, but don’t be surprised to see the Saints linked with the defender again in the summer.
