Southampton must not overpay in Matias Soule chase as Jack Clarke talk lingers: View | OneFootball

Highlights

Russell Martin has led Southampton right into the thick of a promotion battle in the Championship.

The Saints are currently sitting in fourth position, five points behind Leeds United in second place.

They are looking for promotion straight back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, after finishing bottom of the top flight last season, getting themselves relegated.

With promotion on the cards, naturally, plenty of rumours are circulating surrounding who Southampton could sign in the summer.

One of those players is Matias Soule.

Saints must not overpay for Soule

Soule is a right winger who currently plays for Frosinone in the Italian Serie A, on loan from giants Juventus.

He has been in brilliant form this season, helping Frosinone currently avoid relegation back to Serie B, having won the title last season.

The 20-year-old has started the majority of Frosinone’s games, playing 24 of their 26 league games so far. He is their top scorer so far this season, scoring ten goals and also having two assists to his name.

Southampton are reportedly interested in Soule, having allegedly tried to make a move for him in January. But he was reluctant to leave Frosinone midway through the season, and would also require Saints to be promoted before joining.

It is claimed that Southampton had prepared an offer of €35 million (£29.8 million) for Soule, but they instead negotiated a deal that in the end saw Carlos Alcaraz join Juventus on loan, with an option to buy.

It has since been revealed that Juventus’ asking price for Soule in the summer will actually be €40 million (£34.1 million).

It would be a huge outlay for a newly-promoted side in the Premier League, and Saints need to make sure they are careful with how they spend their money.

Clarke could be a cheaper and better solution

With Soule potentially costing so much, Saints would do well to look elsewhere at options who arguably would be just as good, and who would cost less.

A prime example of this could be Sunderland’s Jack Clarke.

It was reported that Southampton are lining up a £15 million bid for Clarke in the summer.

However, Fabrizio Romano has also said that Sunderland will want €30 million (£25.7 million) in the summer for his services.

With Clarke potentially costing just under £9 million less than Soule, this has to be a deal they should be all over.

He would definitely be cheaper, and arguably a better solution for their right wing.

First to note is that Clarke is English, so helps with the home-grown quota in the top flight - something that makes English players generally cost more.

But in the Championship, Clarke has been exceptional this season. He has scored 15 goals in 33 league games, making him one of the top scorers in the league.

His chance creation is also top quality. He has four assists this season so far, but has created 77 chances - only five players have created more.

With Soule costing so much, when there are options like Jack Clarke that are available for cheaper - Saints must make sure they do not overpay for Soule.