Premier League newcomers Southampton are confident that they can seal a potential £10 million deal for Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow before the weekend after previous interest from Liverpool and Manchester United.
After losing Mats Wieffer and Yankuba Minteh left De Kuip for Brighton and Hove Albion, Feyenoord are now facing up to the prospect of three more key players swapping the Netherlands for England.
Nottingham Forest are in talks to sign Santiago Gimenez. The Mexico international scored 26 goals for the Rotterdam giants last term and, while Forest have seen an initial £21 million bid rejected, talks over a move to the City Ground are ongoing.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, have held discussions with Lutsharel Geertruida’s camp.
HITC can also confirm that goalkeeper Justin Bijlow could become a Southampton player in the next few days.
Southampton move for Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow
The Saints have opened talks while lodging an offer of £10 million. Russell Martin’s side are confident that a deal can be completed for Bijlow before they host Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Southampton began their campaign with a 1-0 reverse at Newcastle United last time out, despite Fabian Schar’s early red card.
Veteran glovesman Alex McCarthy was involved in the mix-up which gifted Joelinton his winner, and the arrival of Bijlow could spell the end of his time as Martin’s first-choice between the sticks.
Bijlow, 26 years of age, has made nearly 150 appearances for his hometown club. He was a major part of Feyenoord’s Eredivisie-winning campaign under Arne Slot in 2022/23.
Interestingly, HITC have learned that Bijlow was under consideration to reunite with Slot at Anfield earlier in the summer. The 6ft 2ins giant had been lined up as a potential replacement for Caoimhin Kelleher but speculation over the Irishman’s future has cooled of late.
Liverpool are also closing in on the potential £30 million signing of Valencia net-minder Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Liverpool and Manchester United looked at Dutch ace
Bijlow, meanwhile, has also been linked with Arsenal. He confirmed talks with Manchester United during the summer of 2023 too.
“There was contact (with United),” Bijlow told FR12 before the Red Devils snapped up Andre Onana from Inter Milan.
“I want to achieve the highest achievable in my career. When that is, we will see for ourselves.”
Bijlow, given the clubs that have considered him in the recent past, may feel like something of a coup then for a Southampton side who still have work to do despite a hectic summer of incomings and outgoings.
Last season’s play-off champions have signed 15 players in total. The most recent, £15 million former Sporting Lisbon midfielder Mateus Fernandes, was unveiled on Tuesday.
As expected given Martin’s famed possession-heavy game-plan, Fernandes is very comfortable with the ball at his feet. The same can be said of Bijlow, having honed his ball-playing talents under Slot and therefore well-suited to Martin’s preference of playing out from the back.
HITC understands that, before settling on Bijlow, Southampton also looked at Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone and Jason Steele of Brighton.
Discussion about this post