Southampton face competition to sign 19 y/o free-agent at St Mary’s

Southampton are set to rival Premier League sides Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace for the signature of former Chelsea youth participant Derrick Abu, in line with studies from allnigeriasoccer.

Who’s Derrick Abu?

Abu joined Chelsea in 2012 and went straight into the membership’s U11 setup.

The Nigerian gem progressed by way of the youth sides and at 16 years previous the participant made his debut for the Chelsea under-18’s in 2020, and have become an everyday fixture within the following season, that includes in central protection, proper wing-back, and left wing-back all through the marketing campaign.

The German-born defender made the bounce to the Blues U21 facet final season, nonetheless, he solely made eight appearances earlier than happening trial with fellow Premier League facet Crystal Palace, the place he scored the profitable penalty within the membership’s 5-3 victory over Spanish facet Valencia within the Premier League Worldwide Cup semi-final.

In accordance with allnigeriasoccer, the south London facet was impressed with the full-back throughout his trial and was in pole place to signal the 19-year-old, nonetheless after revealing that Abu would not be enjoying in his most popular place of right-back the defender determined to as an alternative weigh up his choices which embody provides from Brighton and Southampton.

Regardless of Chelsea’s retained checklist not being revealed but, it’s understood that the membership is not going to offer the published music artist a brand new deal.

Would Southampton be the best transfer for Abu?

It’s exhausting to inform whether or not Southampton would be the proper transfer, because the attack-minded full-back is predicted to affix up with the U21 facet if he indicators with the Saints.

The just lately relegated outfit would most definitely present the clearest pathway to first-team soccer, with each senior right-backs Kyle Walker-Peters and Tino Livramento rumoured to leave the club this summer season following relegation, nonetheless, Abu’s lack of first-team expertise might make the subsequent Saints supervisor hesitant to utilise him subsequent season till the full-back has acquired some expertise by way of a mortgage transfer.

The truth that Brighton are eager on his signature is sufficient to get excited concerning the comparatively unknown expertise, although, notably given the Seagulls’ spectacular scouting community and the St Mary’s facet might have a a lot clearer run at signing him, contemplating he’s not eager on Palace’s proposal to shift his place.

It is going to be attention-grabbing to see the place Abu finally ends up this summer season with the curiosity in him excessive, and a transfer to the Saints may very well be the clever transfer ought to he need a quicker path to the primary crew,