Promotion-hopefuls Southampton will battle it out with several Premier League teams and even Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion for free agent Xeka, according to TeamTalk.
Xeka helped lift the Ligue 1 title during the 2020/21 season with Lille but the club allowed the Portuguese midfielder’s contract to expire at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
Fellow French side Rennes snapped Xeka up on a two-year deal but injuries damaged his time at Roazhon Park and the 28-year-old found himself on the unemployed list once again this past summer.
Xeka underwent surgery on his ankle at the start of the year but has now fully recovered from the injury and is ready to play first-team football.
However, there has been no shortage of suitors for Xeka’s signature. TeamTalk are claiming that numerous English top-flight clubs are vying for the player’s services including Everton, Sheffield United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace.
Nevertheless, the outlet are also reporting that Southampton and West Brom are keen to capture the ex-Braga man. Both clubs have made enquiries to the player’s agent in an attempt to get ahead of their Premier League competitors.
Furthermore, there are offers for Xeka from Ligue 1, Italy, Spain and even from the Turkish Super Lig.
What type of player is Xeka?
Stats site FBref, as per Football FanCast, have labelled Xeka as a similar profile to Barcelona’s defensive midfielder Oriel Romeu who spent seven years with the Saints before leaving for Girona in Spain.
In an interview with Lille back in 2017, Xeka admitted that the player who inspires his game the most is Toni Kroos [quotes via Molineux News]:
“But since I’ve been a pro, the one who inspires me the most in my position is Toni Kroos.
“When I watch his games, I try to analyse his movements, his positioning, the way he touches the ball, how he makes his passes. He is a (role) model.”
Writer’s View
Southampton and West Bromwich Albion will have to pull off a miracle to entice a title-winning player like Xeka to move to England’s second tier when clubs in the top-five European leagues are circling.
However, he would be an excellent addition to both, particularly the Saints given the superb style of play Russell Martin has been integrating at the St. Mary’s Stadium.
