Southampton 'sniffing around again' for £18m star at St Mary's

Southampton ‘will be sniffing around’ for Tete after failing to welcome him to St Mary’s just a matter of months ago, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl could look to freshen up his squad after finishing the Premier League campaign sitting precariously close to the relegation zone.

According to The Sun, talks have been held over a move for Tete ahead of the transfer window opening for business next month.

However, Southampton may find it difficult to reach an agreement as the report suggests they are struggling to match the two-cap Brazil under-23 international’s wage demands.

Saints were keen to sign Tete from Shakhtar Donetsk in March, just a matter of weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but the move failed to materialise.

Instead, the winger joined French side Lyon as the Premier League blocked the use of a new transfer window created in order to help foreign players leave Ukraine and Russia due to the ongoing conflict.

Tete has proved to be a threat in the final third of the pitch since his loan move, with him chalking up six goals and assists heading into the weekend.

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Crook believes Southampton are still interested in Tete and could pounce when his loan spell at Lyon comes to an end.

However, the talkSPORT reporter feels two Premier League rivals are also mulling over whether to make a move.

Crook told GIVEMESPORT: “Tete is definitely someone they were in for before he went to Lyon and I think it’s transpired that it’s only a loan deal because there were complications on the Shakhtar side of the paperwork due to the war in Ukraine.

“They will be sniffing around again, but so are