Long running Southampton target Manolo Gabbiadini’s agent Silvio Pagliari, speaking to Mediaset, has confirmed that his client will be leaving them club. He stated that “the lad is happy to play abroad” and that “nothing is concrete yet, but the club have opened up to it.”
This is certainly a contrast to yesterday’s reports that said that Napoli were very hesitant and unhappy about the whole process. It was said then that club president Aurelio De Laurentiis might even decided to pull the plug altogether. But it’s starting to look like the deal will be completed, at least by the time the window closes shut.
Gabbiadini has been a quality striker for Napoli when he’s been afforded the chance to be, but he’s had few chances of late and has yearned for a move to get more playing time. Southampton have been looking for a striker to help fill in the void left by injured Charlie Austin.
Claude Puel hasn’t fancied Shane Long much, despite his goal at Anfield in the EFL Cup last week, and has preferred to play Jay Rodriguez in a central position. Gabbiadini would give them another option that looks very necessary given their smaller squad.
