Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl rejected the opportunity to sign Norwegian striker Joshua King on deadline day because he doesn’t rate the player, according to a report from Football Insider.
The 29-year-old joined Everton from Bournemouth in the final hours of the January transfer window after Hasenhuttl rejected the opportunity to sign King as part of the deal which saw Shane Long head to the Cherries. The Irishman joined the Championship club on loan until the end of the season but during the negotiations, Hasenhuttl rejected King and instead opted to pursue a deal for Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino.
The Norway international, who was once on Manchester United’s books, has struggled for form this season after failing to secure a move last summer despite publicly admitting his desire to leave.
Hasenhuttl reportedly decided that King wasn’t an upgrade on current Southampton strikers Danny Ings and Che Adams, whereas Minamino can be used in a withdrawn role behind the out-and-out front men.
READ SOUTHAMPTON VERDICT
With the possibility of signing King mooted early on deadline day and Long completing his loan move, most Saints fans might have drawn their own conclusions regarding Hasenhuttl’s thoughts on the Norwegian striker.
Perhaps it’s the Everton man similarities to Ings, Adams and Long which stopped Hasenhuttl making a move, or simply the goal-shy campaign the striker has endured thus far.
