Southampton or Huddersfield: Who Should Zlatko Junuzovic Join This Summer?
The Premier League is sure to see an influx of talent in this summer transfer window and while the financial superpowers in the country are going about their business at one end, the lower clubs in the league are fighting to sign potential superstars who can help improve the squad next season.
So it does not come as a surprise that a few clubs in the Premier League are fighting for one single player in the transfer window and one such player wanted desperately by two top flight clubs this summer in England is Zlatko Junuzovic. Huddersfield Town and Southampton are reportedly in a battle to sign the £6million rated midfielder.
Known for his versatility in the attacking third, the experienced Austrian international has been an employee of Bundesliga side Werder Bremen since 2012 and has made more than 150 senior appearances in the top flight in Germany. He has also made 52 appearances for the national side, and is the first choice for club and country at the moment.
However, he has less than a year left on his current deal in Germany and it is understood that Bremen are desperate to get him to sign a new deal. But a report from the Daily Star claim that English clubs Southampton and Huddersfield town are now looking to snap him up this summer.
Capable of playing on the flank and as an attacking midfielder, Junuzovic is a central midfielder by trait, who loves to spend more time in the attacking third. With decent defensive discipline and an even better vision and creativity, the 29-year old is a creator, who can, one in a while, score a long ranger of the highest order.
He loves to put in crosses from different angles, trying to keep the defenders alert for most of the game and has got better at it over the last few years. He picked up 6 goals and 8 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions last season and can improve most of the smaller clubs in the Premier League.
The Saints have used the likes of James Ward Prowse, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Steven Davis, the skipper of the side, Dusan Tadic and Sofiane Boufal, who all play a similar role that Junuzovic could at the club, making it difficult for the Austrian to cement a place in the first team at the St Mary’s.
However, at the Kirklee’s Stadium, David Wagner is looking to add as much quality to his first team as possible for the next season. He used the likes of Aaron Mooy, Jonathan Hogg and Jack Payne in this role to get out of the Championship, while the likes of Dean Whitehead and Philip Billing are both expected to play small roles in the first team.
Junuzovic is a probable improvement on most of those names and he might walk into the first team under the German manager. At £6m, he is a risk worth taking for the Terriers and is an unnecessary expenditure for the Saints this summer.