Southampton have made a lucrative offer for this Bundesliga man, it has been claimed.
Southampton are returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking, after beating Leeds United in the Championship play-off final earlier this month.
Russell Martin guided the Saints to a 4th place finish in the regular season, overcoming West Brom in the play-off semi finals, and then Leeds at Wembley.
Since, the Saints rumour mill has burst into life, with several impressive names linked with a summer move to St Mary’s.
Jack Clarke, along with former Southampton players Adam Lallana and Danny Ings are among the names reportedly on Martin’s wishlist this summer.
But reports in Germany have now claimed that Southampton have made an offer for Werder Bremen star Leonardo Bittencourt.
Southampton make offer for Leonardo Bittencourt
An emerging report from German outlet BILD has claimed that Southampton have made an offer for Bittencourt, who current plays for Werder Bremen where his contract expires in 2025.
It’s claimed that the Saints have made a lucrative offer for the attacking midfielder, who has Borussia Dortmund, Hanover, Hoffenheim, and FC Koln on his footballing CV.
The former Germany U21 man featured 29 times in the 2023/24 Bundesliga campaign, scoring once and assisting two more.
Bittencourt has 42 career appearances to his name, 260 of which in the Bundesliga, with 77 career goals and 50 assists, the bulk of which coming in a five-year stay with Bremen.
Why Southampton are looking at Leonardo Bittencourt
The Saints really don’t have many out and out no.10s in their ranks, or anyone like Bittencourt who can operate in numerous roles in the middle of the park.
He’s played many games for Bremen as a winger, on both sides, and even as a more central midfielder as opposed to an attacking one.
So he not only brings versatility and quality, but much-needed depth in the middle of the park.
And returning to the Premier League, with Martin doing so for the first time as a manager, he’ll need to be adaptable, so having someone come in as a no.10 gives Martin flexibility in terms of the shape.
Bittencourt hasn’t enjoyed the best season with Bremen though, with reports in Germany citing that he’s received mixed reviews following the conclusion of the 2023/24.
And at 30 years old, he may be nearing the end of his prime years, so there’s definitely risk involved, with Southampton having had mixed results when shopping abroad.
Either way, he’s clearly someone who the Saints are keen on, with an offer apparently on the table.