After weeks of speculation, Mohammed Salisu is finally a Southampton player.
He was linked with a number of clubs including Manchester United, Everton, West Ham and Rennes but St Mary’s will be Salisu’s new home.
The Ghanaian featured in 31 games for Real Valladolid this season but his absence in the final five games all but confirmed that he will not be a Valladolid player next season.
The 21-year-old central defender signed a four-year contract after the Saints met his release clause. But why are the Saints so keen on the Ghanaian defender?
Salisu’s numbers
Salisu joined Valladolid’s youth setup three years ago and has made 34 first-team appearances since.
The 2019/20 football season was the breakthrough season for the defender as he became a crucial part of this Valladolid side.
He ranked fourth with the Spanish side in terms of minutes played this season with 2,725 minutes in La Liga.
The qualities required to be a quality defender have seen massive transitions over the years.
Being able to confidently pass well and be involved in build-up is rapidly becoming a must for most center backs.
A skill Salisu already possesses. He completed 890 passes out of the 1056 attempted in La Liga this season.
The 21-year-old demonstrated his press resistance as he was able to complete 152 passes while being pressured by opponents.
In terms of passing range, the Ghanaian successfully switched play (a pass that travels more than 40 yards of the width of the pitch) 25 times this season.
His confidence on the ball was highlighted throughout the season as had 1,419 touches of the ball – the second highest by any Valladolid player.
Salisu also proved to be a good progressor of the ball making 757 carries and covering a distance of 5,169 yards while controlling the ball.
Defensively, Real Valladolid conceded 43 goals – the second lowest by any of the bottom 10 teams in La Liga.
This was made possible by the contributions of Salisu. He made 243 clearances – the fifth highest in La Liga, 44 blocks, 36 interceptions and won 33 tackles.
He has been a rock at the back for Valladolid and helped them finish 13th despite tickling the relegation battle.
Going forward, Salisu has also contributed to 6% of Valladolid’s La Liga goals this season, scoring one goal and providing one assist.
Southampton, the next destination
Southampton have the fifth-worst defensive record in the division, conceding 59 goals so far. Despite finishing well above the relegation spots, Hasenhüttl will be looking to reinforce his defence this summer.
The combination of Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek has blossomed in the last few weeks. With the former catching the eye over the last few weeks.
However, the headache for Hasenhüttl would be the lack of depth in the center back position. Werder Bremen are reportedly keen on re-signing Jannik Vestergaard this summer and with Yoshida’s contract expired, buying a new center back is a must for the Saints.
The prospect of regular football at St Mary’s is one of the key reasons why Salisu has reportedly chosen Southampton. Salisu is one of the rising stars of La Liga and standing at 6ft 3in tall, the Ghanaian defender is strong and technically gifted and has the ability to progress the ball from defence.
The 21-year-old’s knack for playing the ball out of the back will complement the rather robust, no-nonsense nature of Southampton defenders like Bednarek and Stephens. Thus, bringing a new dimension to the defence of the Saints.
The fast-paced nature of the English Premier league will essentially mean that Salisu, who is very talented, will need some time to integrate himself into the Saints backline.
One of Hasenhüttl’s key strengths is developing players as he boasts of an excellent track record. With Salisu’s high potential, Hasenhüttl could have the chance to unearth yet another gem.
- 5 things you didn’t know about Southampton’s new signing Mohammed Salisu
- Where does Salisu rank among Ghana’s most expensive centre-backs in last two decades?
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Source: JoyOnline