Southampton are a team long associated with European ambitions in the Premier League but they could be turning to a polarising former Rangers star to help salvage their top-flight status.
The Saints could find themselves as surprise relegation candidates in the competitive division after a difficult start to the season and tumultuous transfer window.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have lost talented and influential players such as Danny Ings (Aston Villa), Jannick Vestergaard and Ryan Bertrand (both Leicester).
In their place, the club has signed some unproven talent at this level in Adam Armstrong (Blackburn Rovers) for Ings and Romain Perraud (Stade Brestois) for Bertrand.
But it’s in that £15m void left by Danish international centre-half Vestergaard which Saints are reportedly turning to ex-Rangers defender Joe Worrall to fill [Hampshire Live].
Nottingham Forest star Worrall, 24, was three years younger when Steven Gerrard brought him to Ibrox and he experienced a steep learning curve that saw him polarise supporters.
In big matches, Joe would step up but too often got caught up in ideas above his station in matches against lower opposition, that criminal mistake v Kilmarnock in 2019 is still a fresh memory.
But Southampton’s deficiencies at the back were evident as the St Mary’s side crashed to a Premier League 3-1 opening day defeat to Everton at Goodison Park.
But if their interest in Worrall is legitimate then the Saints could be expected to cough up £12m to sign the Forest defender.
According to the Daily Mail, that’s how much the City Ground club are demanding for the player with previous Premier League suitors Burnley only willing to stump up £6m.
Meanwhile, one former Rangers-linked Liverpool international is reportedly on the verge of a move to a team of Scottish Premiership rivals.
