Southampton and AC Milan have reportedly lodged respective enquiries regarding Nottingham Forest star Matty Cash.
According to claims from Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports, Saints have joined the race to land the right-back.
Twitter: #Southampton are another club to have enquired about #NottmForest RB Matty Cash this month #saintsfc #nffc https://t.co/IwZHN6JhsN (@SkySportsLyall)
It was reported earlier on Tuesday by Sky Sports that the Forest man had emerged as a target for Serie A giants Milan, too, as they aim to strengthen their full-back options.
Read Southampton’s verdict
We think that Southampton need to sign another right-back before the transfer window closes.
Cedric Soares is out of contract at the end of the season and picked up an injury against Crystal Palace on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Yan Valery has not featured since November.
Joakim Maehle has been linked with Saints, while Kyle-Walker Peters has also been touted as an option.
We reckon that Cash would be a decent alternative to the aforementioned pair, and reports suggest he would be available for a fee as low as £10 million.
Cash has impressed us in the Championship this season. With two goals and four assists to his name from 26 appearances, he has caught the eye in a Forest shirt.
When watching Saints in action, it is clear to see that Hasenhuttl demands his full-backs bomb forward to provide width to a narrow central shape.
As such, Cash could have the characteristics to suit this role given his attacking quality and dynamism.
Tempting Forest into selling, despite the apparent £10 million price tag, could be problematic, however.
We can’t see the Championship club letting such a key player go so soon after he penned a new deal until 2023.
With time running out on the January transfer window, Genk defender Maehle, at the reported cost of just £7.5 million, still stands out to us as the best possible deal this month…
