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Southampton Consider Marseille Central Defender To Replace Vestergaard

Back in 2013 Saints signed Croatian central defender Dejan Lovren from Lyon in France and now it seems they might look to repeat history 8 years later with another raid for another Croatian defender.

Season 2013/14 saw Saints fans take Dejan Lovren to their hearts as he enjoyed a superb season in the Southampton defence after his arrival from Lyon for around £8.5 million.

It all ended in tears though as the 24 year old 6ft 3 inch stopper suddenly demanded to leave St Mary's for Liverpool and made veiled threats if he wasn't allowed to go, Saints supporters never forgave him for his behaviour.

Now it seems that history may repeat itself as we report ably chase another 24 year old Croatian central defender from France

The latest on the radar is Duje Caleta-Car who plays for Marseille whom he joined from Red Bull Salzburg for around £17 million back in 2018 and has played 76 games in Ligue 1 for the club.

He would cost a little more than the fee that Marseille paid the Austrian club with his current value said to be around £22 million, but with Saints having not only the Vestrgaard £15 million in the bank, but also around £12 million of the Danny Ings cash, this might not be a problem.

Central defence is a position that has been a problem since the 2016/17 season when the club lost both Virgil Van Dijk and Jose Fonte in controversial circumstances and is a position that needs to be finally sorted after 5 years where it has been a problem area

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