West Ham and Southampton are monitoring the situation of Filip Djuricic, who will be available as a free agent next summer.
According to a report from Calciomercato, Southampton are among the clubs keeping an eye on Filip Djuricic. The Premier League outfit is keen on re-signing the Sassuolo attacker on a free transfer next summer, with the player’s current contract in Rome expiring at end of the ongoing season, but face competition from West Ham United.
Djuricic hasn’t had any talks with Sassuolo over a potential renewal. As such, he could be available on a free transfer, thus opening up the possibility of a return to St. Mary’s. Southampton, though, are set to face stiff competition from Premier League rivals West Ham, in the pursuit of Djuricic, who is also courted by his former coach Roberto De Zerbi, the current manager of Shakhtar Donetsk.
A product of the Red Star academy, the Serb is known for his short stint at Southampton. He had joined the Saints in January 2015, on a short-term loan deal. Unfortunately, the move did not work out, with the attacker ending up returning to his parent club SL Benfica.
Nevertheless, Djuricic has since established himself as a key player in Serie A, especially after his 2018 transfer to Sassuolo. During his three and a half years at the club, the 29-year-old has notched up almost 100 competitive appearances for the club, being involved in a total of 26 goals.
The Serbian’s versatility in the final third, coupled with his work ethic and aggression make him an appealing target for multiple clubs across Europe, including West Ham and Southampton.
It appears the Hammers want to rope him in as part of their plan to shore up the offensive options. Djuricic, who is an attacking midfielder by trade, could prove to be a useful alternative for Nikola Vlasic. Not to mention, the Sassuolo star can be an ideal cost-effective alternative for top target Weston McKennie, as the player is set to be available for free.
Southampton, meanwhile, want to re-sign Djuricic to add some much-needed depth in the attacking department, especially amid the uncertainty surrounding the future of Mohamed Elyounoussi.
The former FC Basel starlet is reportedly a target for Arsenal, and any potential departure will certainly tempt Ralph Hasenhuttl to make a move for the highly versatile Djuricic, perhaps even in the upcoming January transfer window.
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