Southampton book medical to sign “fantastic” ace who’s Champions League “proven”
Southampton have now booked a medical to sign a “fantastic” ace, who has “proven” himself in the Champions League.
Saints looking to get play-off push back on track
Tonda Eckert was rewarded with the manager’s job in early December, after winning four out of five Championship games in an interim role, but the Saints’ hopes of mounting a promotion push have since been dented significantly.
Eckert’s side are without a victory in their last six matches in the second tier, and they were on the receiving end of a very heavy defeat last time out, succumbing to a 4-0 defeat against promotion-chasing Middlesbrough.
Consequently, the St. Mary’s outfit now sit in 15th place, eight points adrift of the top six, and they may need to make some new additions this month if they are to stand any chance of returning to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Eckert has confirmed there won’t be wholesale changes before the January transfer window closes, saying: “You never do a lot in January, and we don’t plan to do a lot, but if we come to the conclusion that there is somebody who can really help us, it needs to be spot on.”
However, goalkeeper has been a problem position for Southampton, with Gavin Bazunu making an error leading to a goal in the heavy defeat against Boro, and they are now closing in on the signing of Bayern Munich’s Daniel Peretz.
That is according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, who has revealed Peretz is set to travel this evening, before completing the move after completing a medical, which has been booked in for tomorrow morning.
The Saints are set to pay the German club a loan fee of €400,000 (£347k), and will have the option to make the Israeli’s stay permanent for €8m (£7m) in the summer.
"Fantastic" Peretz could be upgrade on Bazunu
The 25-year-old has been a back-up player throughout his career with Bayern, but he did manage to impress when given the opportunity in the Champions League last season, with sporting director Max Eberl saying: “Daniel Peretz is a fantastic backup. He’s proven himself in the cup, Bundesliga, and now the Champions League. He also delivered great performances for the Israeli national team against Belgium and France.”
Before moving to the Bundesliga, the shot-stopper also caught the eye when playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv, shipping just 15 goals in the Israeli Premier League in the 2022-23 season, and keeping 16 clean sheets in 26 outings, to help his side secure a third-place finish.
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ByCharlie Smith
Bazunu, on the other hand, has been criticised by former player Jo Tessem, who said last month: “I don’t have anything personal against Bazunu, but football-wise, you have to criticise what he is as a goalkeeper.
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“He is a young keeper learning his trade, but if you are going to be a top, top team, you have to have a keeper who will bail you out.”
Southampton need to bring in a new goalkeeper if they are to stand any chance of reaching the play-offs, and Peretz could be a smart addition to the squad.