Why Kevin Wimmer Would Be A Good Addition For Southampton
Southampton are seriously considering the prospect of signing defender Kevin Wimmer from Tottenham Hotspur ahead of next campaign, a report from The Mirror claims.
The 24-year old has struggled to carve out a place for himself in the Spurs’ line-up since his move from German side FC Koln two years back. Tottenham are willing to consider a sale, with manager Mauricio Pochettino expected to bring in a new centre-back in the summer.
However, the North Londoners’ £20million valuation of the player may prove to be a stumbling block in any move, with the Saints not willing to meet that price for Wimmer’s services, according to the same report.
Southampton finished the season placed 8th in the Premier League and were also the finalists of the EFL Cup, which they lost to Manchester United. But the club decided to part ways with manager Claude Puel, just one season into his spell and are now looking for a new manager. One of the major tasks at hand for whoever is handed over the reins will be addressing the defensive issues at the south coast club.
The Saints lost former captain and long serving defender Jose Fonte in the January transfer window, when the Portuguese opted to join West Ham United. They could also lose star defender Virgil van Dijk who has been one of the most sought-after central defenders in the Premier League.
That would leave a gaping hole in the Saints’ backline ahead of next season. While Jack Stephens and Maya Yoshida did a more than decent job in the second half of the season after Fonte’s exit and Van Dijk’s injury, a new centre-back will be of paramount importance for the club, if they are to meet their ambitions and expectations.
Wimmer could be the answer that Southampton are looking for. The Austrian may have struggled in the recently concluded campaign, but he had done enough in the 2015/16 campaign to show that he belongs at this level. When Jan Vertonghen was out injured, he formed a strong partnership with Toby Alderweireld, helping Tottenham mount a title challenge.
This past season has been somewhat of a step back for the 24-year old centre-half as he struggled to make any impact in the handful of chances that came his way. However, he has displayed that he can be a solid option to have in the ranks, if given a regular run in the side. He has all the abilities to excel in the English top-flight and will be a more than decent addition to the Southampton backline.
However, the £20 million price tag does seem a little steep considering that he hardly played last season. The Saints can try and negotiate a better deal for the defender, but Daniel Levy is known to be one of the most shrewd negotiators and it might be little hard to get the price down. If Southampton manage to get him for anything lower than £20million, Wimmer will be a very good signing for the club.