Croatia International striker Ante Rebic is expected to leave his Italian club Fiorentina, with a possible move to Southampton on the cards.
Reports today in Italian press have revealed that the south coasters have their watchful eye on the young Serie A forward, who is said to be worth in the region of £4M.
Southampton will be looking to make urgent reinforcements to their attacking force for the start of their 2014/2015 Premier League campaign, as a result of them proving to be victims of their own success.
With this past season having been their golden opportunity to demonstrate they possess quality players who can play football at the highest level, bigger clubs have swooped in as a result and key members of the squad including striker Rickie Lambert – who has been snapped up by his boyhood club Liverpool – are headed north this summer.
With Saints captain and England World Cup midfielder Adam Lallana set to follow Lambert to Merseyside on his return from Brazil, Southampton are weighing up options to bolster their frontline and midfield.
Rebic, 20, is said to be hot property and is currently in Brazil with the Croatian national team. The youngster featured in his side’s 4-0 destruction of Cameroon last week, coming on as a substitute in the 78th minute of the game.
Despite joining Fiorentina last summer from Croatian side RNK Split and only making nine appearances over the course of the season, Rebic’s form has captured the attention of Italian rivals Udinese, German Bundesliga sides FC Schalke and Wolfsburg, as well as Southampton.
Although in contract with Fiorentina until June 2018, the player is said to be free to leave should he wish to and he is likely to choose a move that will see him maximise his game time next season.