Wolfsburg are set to complete a deal for Marin Pongracic, according to Kicker, with Southampton poised to miss out on the defender.
Reports suggested that the Red Bull Salzburg centre-back had been a ‘long-term target’ for Saints ahead of the January transfer window, but his short-term future seemingly lies in Germany.
Kicker claims that Pongracic will sign a contract until 2024 with Wolfsburg after the clubs agreed on a deal worth €10 million.
Salzburg’s sporting director confirmed this week that the defender could be on his way out of Austria this month, and Wolfsburg appear to have won the race for his signature.
Read Southampton’s verdict
Pongracic may have only played five times for Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga under Jesse Marsch this season, but we feel he is a player with a bright future ahead of him.
The 22-year-old has several qualities that would have made him a good fit for Southampton; upon viewing him in action, it is clear to see that he possesses positional intelligence and is a forward-thinking player.
Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek have developed a strong partnership in central defence for Southampton in recent weeks, but bolstering the depth at Ralph Hasenhuttl’s disposal could be wise.
Ultimately, though, with Kevin Danso, Maya Yoshida and Jannik Vestergaard all still available, perhaps Saints should focus their immediate attention elsewhere.
More pressing matters face the club this month, and we think that recruiting new full-backs, for which Hasenhuttl has outlined his plans, should be the primary focus.
