da bwin： According to reports in the Daily Mail, West Ham United have been joined by Spanish giants Real Madrid in the race to sign in-form Krasnodar striker Fyodor Smolov.
da winzada777： The 27-year-old has enjoyed an impressive campaign domestically for the Russian outfit to catch the attention of the Irons and manager David Moyes, while he also looks set to captain his country as they host the 2018 World Cup next summer.
Even though a move away from Russia would be considered risky by some considering he is the skipper and the huge event starts in just over six months’ time, the Daily Mail says the centre-forward is still open to a move away during the January transfer window.
Meanwhile, six goals in their last three matches has seen Southampton’s previous troubles in front of goal ease slightly – they now have 15 in 15 Premier League matches this term – but manager Mauricio Pellegrino is still likely to look to add to his squad in the New Year.
If a striker in on his wish-list, then a move for Smolov could prove to be a shrewd one.
Here are three reasons Saints should hijack West Ham’s bid to sign the attacker…
They need a new striker
While Charlie Austin has scored three goals in his last three Premier League games, his first start of the season in the top flight only came in the 4-1 win against Everton late last month.
The 28-year-old would certainly have been thinking about his future prior to scoring a brace against the Toffees, and he may not have changed his mind having been dropped to the substitutes’ bench against Man City in the following game.
The former QPR man bounced back by starting and finding the net in the draw against Bournemouth last time out, but it remains to be seen whether his long-term future lies at St Mary’s under Pellegrino.
Meanwhile, the south coast outfit’s other striker options are Shane Long and Manolo Gabbiadini, with the former without a goal in all competitions since February, while the latter has fallen out of favour in recent weeks after struggling in the lone role up top.
It seems clear that Saints need a new centre-forward, and Smolov could be the right addition at the right time.
His attributes
Southampton played the 4-2-3-1 formation most effectively when they had a physical striker like Graziano Pelle and Rickie Lambert in recent seasons, as those players could not only win headers but they could also hold the ball up for the midfield runners.
That is something that Saints don’t have right now – even if Austin has impressed in the last couple of weeks – and they need a new player to take up the mantle to improve their play in the final third.
Standing at 6ft 2in tall Smolov is strong in the air and able to win his fair share of aerial duels, but he is also useful dribbling with the ball too and has proven that he is able to score with both his left and his right foot – he has 13 goals in 15 games for club and country this term.
Price tag
According to the Daily Mail, Smolov could be available for around £15m during the January transfer window and while he may not have played in the Premier League before, that would seem like a good deal for any potential buyer.
The 27-year-old is captain of Russia and should be entering the prime years of his career, while he also speaks fluent English which should allow him to settle quickly.
Southampton don’t like to pay over the odds for a new signing, and they may feel that they can beat West Ham to the signing of the striker given the Irons’ current relegation struggles.
Do you agree, Saints fans? Let us know below.