Southampton are interested in making a potential move to sign Levante winger Jorge de Frutos in the summer transfer window with the Saints leading a queue of sides in the race for his signature, per The Mirror (28/02/2021).

The Saints could be set to face a crucial summer transfer window as they aim to strengthen their squad, after Ralph Hasenhuttl has been left working with limited options due to a host of injury issues this term.

Both Takumi Minamino and Theo Walcott are set to return to Liverpool and Everton at the end of the campaign. That could leave Southampton needing to find replacements.

De Frutos has been in good form for Levante this season in La Liga, with the former Real Madrid attacker having managed to register three goals and seven assists for the Spanish club in 24 appearances (Sofascore). The 24-year-old only signed a five-year deal with the club last summer after impressing during a loan spell in the Spanish second tier last term with Rayo Vallecano.

It is believed that Southampton have already held talks with the winger’s representatives and they are at the moment leading the race ahead of a bunch of sides interested in signing De Frutos in the summer, per The Mirror (28/02/2021). It will be interesting to therefore see if they manage to secure his signature if they firm up their interest in him.

Read Southampton verdict

This looks like a potentially decent signing for Southampton were they to make a successful move for the winger. De Frutos fits the right sort of profile of player that the Saints like to target under Hasenhuttl with him being the right sort of age where he can be developed further by the Austrian. While he is also suited to playing on either side in a 4-2-2-2 formation.

The 24-year-old though might not be available on the cheap considering that he is under contract until the summer of 2025, while other interested parties could help to drive up his valuation further. The Saints, though could have some room freed up on the wage bill if they do not sign Minamino and Walcott permanently in the summer. That might help them free up funds to make the move.

De Frutus has managed to average 0.9 successful dribbles, 0.9 key passes and 0.7 shots per game, despite only making ten starts for Levante (Sofascore). That shows he can make things happen in the final third. However, considering he has never played outside of Spain it would be something of a gamble for them to expect him to come straight into the Premier League and adapt instantly.