There could be good news for Saints in the January Transfer Window, sources in Rome are saying that Lazio are preparing to make their loan deal for Wesley Hoedt permanent and that would be a nice financial bonus for Saints from two perspectives.

Wesley Hoedt signed for Saints from Lazio in the summer of 2017, but found himself at a club and for that matter a defence in turmoil, he was never able to form a regular partnership in the centre of defence and when Ralph Hasenhuttl arrived in December 2018 it was Hoedt's 3rd Saints manager in 15 months.

Hoedt had been the most regular part of the centre of defence in that 15 month period, but was starting to get stick from a section of the crowd, when Hasenhuttl arrived the defender was clearly a man not happy with his lot.

He would be out on loan within weeks of Ralph's arrival and despite reports that he was ready to play for a place in the side when he returned in the summer of 2019, he soon found that he was an outcast again and remains just about the only player that the Austrian manager has failed to give a chance to show what he can do in a competitive game.

Last season saw him at Royal Antwerp and they were keen to sign him as were several other clubs in the summer, but the stumbling block was his wages and with two years left on his contract the Belgium clubs were unable to strike a deal either with Saints as a club or the player himself.

So Hoedt found himself out on loan again, this time to Lazio the club from whence he came to St Mary's, back in Rome in familiar territory, the Dutchman has started to shine , both in Serie A and the Champions League.

This has led Lazio to want to make sure he stays at the club going forward and they are said to be ready to activate the clause in the deal that allows them to sign the player for a rumoured £5.5 million.

This is of course well below the £14 million that Saints paid, but in these times Saints will be happy to be able to get some return on the deal and also to be able to get his wages off the books, it is likely that Lazio are not meeting the full cost of that and we are still having to pay a percentage.

So Saints will welcome Lazio making a move, but there will be a lot of negotiating to do, both between the two clubs and the player, Hoedt still has 18 months on his contract and is coming to the point where he will have to trade a high salary for a lower one but with long term security.

From this perspective financially he could see out his loan period and then see the lie of the land in the summer, hopefully he will see the benefit to all parties of making the move permanent now.

Photo: Action Images

WestSussexSaint added 10:10 - Dec 6 Your article makes Hoedt appear to be some sort of victim outside of his control. Could it be that he was a contributory factor to the defence being in turmoil? As for Ralph not giving him a chance, given that the rest of the so called defence in turmoil has been given a fair crack do you think Ralph had already seen enough in training to know that this player did not have the skills or the willingness to fit Ralphs approach.

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kingslandstand1 added 12:57 - Dec 6 Good post WSS. He did seem to have an attitude issue but I would also say that the way Vestergard has responded to some game time and improved performances proves Ralph does give the players a chance (although where was the competition) and as you say, it could be that Hoedt did nothing in training to justify that extra game time
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IWOZTHERE added 13:05 - Dec 6 Hoedt was never the 'gnarly' old organiser I hoped for. Neither was Vester despite recent improvement. BUt Ralph persisted with him? I just wonder if Hoedt would have matched or exceeded Vester's improvement had he been 'forgiven' as often? We still need that organiser at the back. All that said, Hoedt foolishly burnt his bridges!
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highfield49 added 14:33 - Dec 6 It seems to me that the crucial difference between Vestergaard and Hoedt is that one was willing to learn and adapt and the other new it all and wouldn't adapt.
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felly1 added 16:00 - Dec 6 He's generally a sub at Lazio.
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NewburySaint added 09:46 - Dec 7 I’m not sure how closely you follow Serie A but when he does play for Lazio, which isn’t every game, he is generally at fault for the goals, and chances, they are conceding which makes it more remarkable that these reports are emerging Lazio want to take him permanently so soon.
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