Southampton re-ignite pursuit of Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez
Southampton will make a fresh bid for Manchester United frontman Javier Hernandez to replace the Liverpool-bound Rickie Lambert, the second-highest scorer for them last season with 14 goals.
The Saints had enjoyed a very good 2013-14 season, but are still reeling from the departures of Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Callum Chambers, Luke Shaw and Rickie Lambert to top clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United. They had previously tried to include Chicharito in the sale of Luke Shaw to the Manchester club, but failed.
Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic, Ryan Bertrand, and £10m goalkeeper Fraser Forster have joined the club since last season, but doubts remain whether they are suitable replacements for the departed players. Also, a sufficient amount of the £90m windfall remain unused.
Manager Ronald Koeman has said he wants to sign a defender and a striker, and hopes the Mexican on his radar can be convinced to make the switch.
“We have targets to replace Lambert, we have targets to replace Lovren,” said Koeman.
“Then the squad will be 24-25 players, then we have real competition in the team to have a good season.”
Hernandez has been a peripheral figure at his club recently, possibly costing him a starting line-up place in the recently concluded World Cup. It is understood Southampton is not his ideal destination, but the player could be forced to move because even new coach Louis van Gaal has not considered him integral to his vision of the club.
Koeman is hopeful of luring away Hernandez by giving him more playing time, though he has attracted attention from Atletico Madrid and Juventus as well.
The club are still in pursuit of another big-name in defender Marcos Rojo