Southampton interested in mammoth Millwall defender Jake Cooper | OneFootball

Boasting one of the worst defensive records in the Premier League, Southampton have obvious deficiencies at centre-back and will be addressing the problem this summer.

According to Football Insider, the Saints will go toe-to-toe with Aston Villa and other suitors over six-foot-four Millwall defender Jake Cooper.

Millwall do not want to see Cooper leave and are currently attempting to convince him to stay as his contract expires this summer – meaning the player would be available on a free transfer.

Cooper’s ability to be a day in, day out centre-back is not under question whatsoever and he has developed a reputation as being one of the better defenders in the Championship.

Cooper has went the full 90 minutes in 39 of Millwall’s 40 matches in all competitions this season, with the Lions boasting the sixth-best defensive record in the Championship.

He could provide a big boost to Southampton’s back-line despite having absolutely zero Premier League experience. His aerial duel success rate is a decent 77 per cent – which trumps Jan Bednarek’s record of 70 per cent and well ahead of Jack Stephen’s 44 per cent output.