- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Premier League giants Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle are keen on France Under-18 captain Joachim Kayi Sanda but Southampton remain hopeful that the defender can be lured to St Mary’s.
HITC Football understands that a whole host of big-name clubs on both sides of the Channel are in hot pursuit of a player who shone during the recent Under-17 World Cup, France losing on penalties in the final to Germany in December.
There is interest from Arsenal, Manchester and Newcastle, alongside Paris Saint-Germain, Lens, Monaco and Marseille. Borussia Dortmund, renowned for giving platforms to football’s most exciting young talents, are keen to ensure Kayi Sanda follows in the footsteps of Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland.
Runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen are also in the race.
But while such competition would hardly make a second-tier Southampton outfit favourites in the eyes of casual observers, HITC Football has been informed that there is still a chance that one of the most coveted young defenders in Europe ends up on the South Coast.
Southampton hope to win Kayi Sanda race
Sanda plays for Valenciennes in France’s second tier. Southampton’s owners – Sport Republic – also control the Ligue 2 outfit, ensuring that there is a connection between the Saints and The Athenians.
Southampton know that their hopes could rest on whether promotion back to the Premier League can be achieved. Russell Martin’s fourth-place side looked destined for the play-offs. But there is hope that the prospect of more regular first-team football will convince Sanda that his development would be better served in red-and-white.
Southampton have long since established themselves, almost like Dortmund, as a club where talented young players can make their name. Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Tino Livramento and more all secured big-money transfers after impressing on the banks of the Solent.
Arsenal, Man United and PSG in the race
The 6ft 1ins Sanda is under contract at Valenciennes until 2026. He became the club’s youngest ever debutant when he featured at the age of just 16 years and ten months.
He is, as ESPN explain, ‘calm, dominating, physically imposing, excellent in the air and (possesses) a safe passing game’. That composure in possession will appeal to Saints boss Martin. Sanda has often been likened to another Valenciennes graduate in the £38 million Bayern Munich centre-half Dayot Upamecano.