Southampton are believed to be targeting LOSC Lille midfielder Idrissa Gueye, but face competition for his signature from Olympique de Marseille, according to reports in France.
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According to France Football, the Premier League side appear in pole position to sign the Senegal international, who is seen as a replacement for Morgan Schneiderlin.
The former Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace midfielder is a long-time transfer target for Arsenal, as well as their Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea [Express], and with a move potentially imminent [via the Metro], the Saints are making plans for his successor.
France Football indicate that the club have settled on Lille’s dynamic Gueye as the man to replace the France international, and the two teams are believed to be in advanced talks for the player.
However, according to Le 10 Sport, the south-coast outfit may face considerable competition for the €10 million-rated player’s signature.
Both Olympique de Marseille and AS Saint-Etienne are also keen on the West African, although neither could offer Gueye the Champions League football that might have tempted him to one of Lille’s Ligue 1 rivals. It also remains to be seen whether either French outfit could offer the same kind of wages as Southampton.
The 25-year-old featured 32 times for Les Dogues in Ligue 1 this season, contributing four goals and two assists.
He is a mobile, tactically-intelligent and technically-competent player who would likely form an excellent midfield partnership with Victor Wanyama.