Southampton is the latest club to have expressed their interest in Lorient centre-back Bruno Ecuele Manga and have lined up the player to replace Dejan Lovren, according to French media.
Gabonese defender Manga has been indentified by L’Equipe as the man earmarked to replace Saints defender Lorven, who the south coast club are preparing to lose to Premier League giants Liverpool.
The 25-year-old Ligue 1 player was previously a target for Liverpool and Everton and could be the first signing made by Southampton boss Ronald Koeman.
Dutch chief Koeman, who replaced former coach Mauricio Pochettino at the end of last season, has been left with a depleted squad following the departure of a trio of Saints favourites – midfielder Adam Lallana, left-back Luke Shaw and striker Rickie Lambert.
It would appear that Southampton are fast-becoming something of a feeder club to Liverpool, with the Brendan Rodgers’ Reds having completed their moves for Lallana and Lambert in the last couple of weeks and now a third raid by Merseysiders’ – for Croatian star Lovren – is on the verge of being executed.
Lovren is said to be pushing for the move to join his two former team-mates, sharing their desire to play next season in Liverpool’s Premier League and Champions League campaigns.
Should this proposed transfer complete, this will open the door for Lorient Defender Manga, who has previously expressed his desire to play in the Premier League.