Southampton wish to usher in gamers with expertise of successful promotion from the Championship, as they got down to construct a squad able to returning to the Premier League.
The Saints have been denied the prospect to compete within the Championship play-off closing final season, on account of the ‘Spygate’ scandal, which implies they are going to begin subsequent season with a four-point deduction.
Nonetheless, promotion ought to nonetheless be achievable, regardless of the setback, with Tonda Eckert’s facet amassing 47 factors of their closing 20 Championship matches, which was 4 greater than another workforce.
It will likely be essential for Eckert to get his recruitment proper this summer season although, and considered one of Ipswich City’s 2025-26 promotion winners has now emerged as a goal.
Southampton maintain talks to signal former Ipswich City star
Based on switch knowledgeable Fabrizio Romano, Southampton have now opened talks concerning a deal for Ivan Azon, who at the moment performs for Como, with the Italian facet set to participate in subsequent season’s Champions League.
Discussions are ongoing, and a deal may quantity to round €9m – €10m (£8m – £9m).
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Soccer FanCast’s Verdict |
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Credibility |
With the information coming from trusted switch reporter Fabrizio Romano, it’s extra prone to be correct. Signing Azon would additionally make an excessive amount of sense, contemplating he was part of the Ipswich facet that received promotion from the Championship final season. |
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Funds |
A deal within the area of £9m is unlikely to interrupt the financial institution for the Saints, contemplating they’re nonetheless getting parachute funds from the Premier League. Furthermore, they might be set to promote Shea Charles for £25m, which might increase their finances additional. |
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Perception |
The Zaragoza-born ahead is a striker by commerce, and he made 38 Championship appearances en-route to the Tractor Boys reaching promotion. Kieran McKenna described him as “excellent” after a 4-1 victory in opposition to Swansea Metropolis again in November. |
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Influence |
Ben Brereton Diaz was despatched out on mortgage to Derby County final season, suggesting he would not have a lot of a future at St. Mary’s. As such, the Como striker might be introduced in as a substitute. |
Why Ivan Azon might be a dangerous signing for Southampton
The Spaniard was a first-team common for Ipswich final season, however regardless of predominantly that includes as a striker, he solely managed to amass 5 targets and 4 assists in 38 Championship outings.
A return of 9 aim involvements over a 46-game season is not notably spectacular, particularly contemplating he majorly underperformed an xG of 11.5 and missed 21 massive probabilities, which was greater than another Championship participant.
That mentioned, it’s a optimistic signal the centre-forward was getting within the positions to attain within the first place, and he did contribute together with his work-rate, in line with McKenna, who mentioned: “He’s decided and hard-working, he’s received all of the attributes to succeed at this degree.”
As such, Azon might be an astute signing for Southampton, if he is ready to cease squandering so many good alternatives.
