Southampton central defender Wesley Hoedt is set to join Lazio on loan with the Italians having an option to buy him on a permanent basis next summer, as per Fabrizio Romano.
Romano has confirmed that personal terms have been agreed as the 26-year-old heads to Serie A, ending a three-year stay with the Saints.
Hoedt joined Southampton in 2017 and made 28 Premier League appearances in his first season on the south coast.
However, the arrival of manager Ralph Hassenhuttl saw the Dutch defender cast aside form first-team duty and he has since had loan spells with Celta Vigo and Royal Antwerp.
The Netherlands international unsurprisingly has not been seen in Hassenhutl’s squad for the opening two matches of the season and will welcome a return to the club who Southampton paid £14m to for his services back in 2017.
Hoedt’s departure leaves Saints with Jan Bednarek, Jannik Vestergaard, Jack Stephens and new signing Mohammed Salisu, who arrived in August in a deal worth a reported £10m from Vallodolid, as their central defensive options.
Despite Hoedt only initially leaving on a loan, the option to buy may entice Saints officials to make some additional funds available to Hassenhuttl to use in the current transfer window.
