Southampton defender Yan Valery could be set for a deadline move to Championship side Birmingham City, but the Saints will only sanction the deal if they bring in a new signing first, according to Hampshire Live reporter Tom Leach.
🚨 There is truth in Yan Valery to #BCFC, as per @FootMercato, but he will only leave if #SaintsFC sign a player today – not before then.
Ralph put Djenepo, Diallo and JWP all ahead of him at RB on Sat. If I was YV, I’d be looking elsewhere too. It could be a good move for him.
— Tom Leach (@TomLeachCCFC) February 1, 2021
The 21-year-old has been linked with a potential move away from St Mary’s as he looks for more game-time, and Birmingham are interested in bringing him to St Andrews before the window closes, according to Foot Mercato. The right-back has been limited to just three Premier League appearances so far this season (Sofascore).
Valery was even overlooked against Aston Villa at the weekend despite the injury to Kyle Walker-Peters, with midfielder James Ward-Prowse deployed at right-back instead. The Saints are also reportedly closing in on a loan deal for Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles, which would add further competition for places in the defender’s position.
However, Leach’s update suggests that the Saints will only sanction a move for Valery if they can first bring in a new player. At this stage, that wuld probably mean that the move to Birmingham would depend on what happens with the Maitland-Niles situation.
Read Southampton verdict
Valery probably needs to move away from Southampton in order to get his career back on track after finding minutes hard to come by this season. The right-back has not been able to fully convince at St Mary’s, and a move to Birmingham could offer him the chance to get a run of consistent form together.
However, the Saints need to ensure they do not leave themselves short on cover in the full-back positions, so it seems sensible for them to wait until they have brought in another player before sanctioning an exit for the 21-year-old.
