Southampton in talks to sign forward Morgan Guilavogui from Will Still's former club RC Lens | OneFootball

Guilavogui, who has been at the centre of a bizarre transfer saga this summer, could be on the move to England

Southampton are interested in signing RC Lens forward Morgan Guilavogui - who was briefly part of Will Still's squad at the French club last year.

The Saints have barely been active in terms of incomings this summer, with plenty of their squad from last season's dismal Premier League campaign still at the club, but that could change if one of Mateus Fernandes or Tyler Dibling - or perhaps both - depart before the September 1 deadline.

The only new faces to arrive at St Mary's Stadium so far are striker Damion Downs and centre-back Joshua Quarshie, but Still is still looking for new additions, and that includes looking at his former club for potential recruits.

Southampton in transfer talks with RC Lens to sign Morgan Guilavogui

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that talks are underway between Southampton and Ligue 1 outfit Lens for the transfer of Morgan Guilavogui, who Still knows something about after his time at the northern France club.

Still was in charge of Lens for just one season, but Guilavogui was there upon his arrival - however he was shipped out on loan to St. Pauli of the Bundesliga on loan in late July.

A scorer of six goals in Germany's top flight, the Hamburg-based club were impressed enough to trigger the €3 million buy option to bring him in on a permanent basis, but the transfer saga turned somewhat bizarre, as it was announced that Lens had triggered their buy-back clause on the 21-cap Guinea international for around €4.5 million, immediately bringing him back to the club.

Guilavogui started in Lens' first Ligue 1 game of the season last weekend, which was a 1-0 defeat to Lyon under Still's successor Pierre Sage, but he could soon be on the move to England if Southampton are successful with their negotiations.

Morgan Guilavogui could be seen as an underwhelming potential Southampton addition

On the face of it, Saints fans may not be too enthralled by Guilavogui given his track record.

Six Bundesliga goals last season is solid enough, but prior to that in 2023-24, he found the back of the net just twice in Ligue 1 action - eight league strikes in two seasons paints a different picture entirely.

Guilavogui would likely fit in as one of the two players behind the lone striker if Will Still sticks to his 3-4-2-1 system that he's utilised at Southampton so far, but he's got an embarrassment of riches in that area of the pitch if everyone remains at the club, and given the fact Still let the Guinean depart last summer in his previous job, it's perhaps a surprise he now wants to sign him.