Southampton could face an uphill battle to keep hold of key midfielder Caspar Jander in the summer as interest from abroad emerges.
The German international arrived at St. Mary’s in the summer from 1. FC Nürnberg for a reported fee of £10.4 million, and has been a reliable option in an otherwise dour season in Hampshire with 29 appearances to his name so far.
Premier League Move Touted
However, the Saints may have the chance to cash in on their 22-year-old midfielder, with reports from Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg suggesting that multiple top-flight sides are circling to sign Jander.
It is believed that a return to his homeland is on the cards, with RB Leipzig and Stuttgart both interested in a move for the Southampton number 20, who is eager to take another step forward in his career.
The Bundesliga sides are not alone in their interest for Jander, with Eredivisie giants Ajax as well as unnamed Premier League clubs also eyeing up a deal, with these suitors having to potentially match a valuation between €15–25 million (£13-22 million).
By the summer, the former Schalke academy graduate will have three years remaining on his contract, who arrived in the wake of Southampton’s £40 million sale of Mateus Fernandes to West Ham United.
Is A Move Away The Right Step?
While a move to a top-flight division such as the Bundesliga and Premier League is definitely sure to see Caspar Jander progress up the hierarchy of clubs, it may not be the right move for his emergence as a top talent.
All of his potential destinations will likely see him make the step up, but at clubs with highly competitive squads, and would be risky to add in a player who has failed to set the world alight as of yet as a regular starting option.
Sticking with Southampton may indeed be the right choice for Jander, with Tonda Eckert’s side by no means out of the race for promotion after their statement comeback victory over struggling Leicester City.
Regardless of the outcome of the Saints’ chase for promotion this season, they seem to have largely recovered from their blip under Will Still and should be a surefire contender to go up if they fail to do so in their remaining fixtures.
