Tosin Adarabioyo Will He March in with the Saints?

With 193 clearances – the most by any defender and having recorded the fastest sprint time by any centre-back in the Premier League last season, one would have expected Tosin Adarabioyo to be starring for a club playing in the top flight but he went on relegation with Fulham.

The former Manchester City defender may soon find his way back to elite club fast with the Saint now prowling. After shipping in three goals in their Premier League opener, Southampton have identified the Anglo-Nigerian as the answer to their frail defence

Since losing defender Jannik Vestergaard to Leicester City in a £15 million move last week, Southampton have been looking at potential replacements for the Dane.

It put Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl in a situation where he had to field an untested centre-back pair of Mohammed Salisu and Jack Stephens in their Premier League opener against Everton.

After conceeding three goals in their 3-1 loss to Everton in the Premier League opener, the Saints can no longer wait to sign a new central defender.
Following the result, Southampton are hoping to land Adarabioyo to solve their defensive issues.

Hasenhuttl has made his desire for a new addition clear on several occasions and his thinking is aligned with the club’s hierarchy in that sense.

It has become abundantly clear as fans already know, that both Hasenhuttl and Southampton have a certain profile of player they are trying to attract – young, hungry, yet to sign a big contract and someone they can sell for a profit in the future.

Their search for Vestergaard’s replacement may have hit a brick wall but a source who operates in football recruitment believes that the transfer window could very well come to life now for many clubs.

The 23-year-old came through City Academy but couldn’t break into the Manchester City fold, which meant that he had to go on different loan spells at Blackburn Rovers and West Brom.
The defender then decided to end his association with the Citizens permanently to sign for Fulham last season.

Adarabioyo said after joining Fulham last season: “I’m very excited, very excited to get going and finally be playing Premier League football.
“I felt like the time was right to leave Manchester City and push on. It was the right time in my career to move on and hopefully get a lot of Premier League games.”

He has a release clause of 10 million pounds inserted into his contract.
Aside, Southampton, Adarabioyo has attracted interest from two Premier League sides that did not have a good start to the season-the duo of Newcastle United and Arsenal.

Players left out of their Premier League squad on the opening day of the season will already be questioning their future and whether they need to make a move.
The 23-year-old had a great season despite Fulham’s demotion to the second-tier, finishing the campaign with the most clearances in the Premier League-193, and also recorded the fastest sprint time of any centre-back.

Before joining the Cottagers on a permanent deal in October 2020, Adarabioyo enjoyed back-to-back loan spells at West Brom and Blackburn Rovers.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta knows Adarabioyo really well, the Spaniard was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City before he was appointed head coach of his former club.

Adarabioyo is available for £10 million this summer due to a release clause in his contract.
The former Manchester City centre-half was one of the Cottagers’ best performers in the Premier League last season, forming a solid partnership with Joachim Andersen in the heart of Scott Parker’s defence despite their relegation into the Championship.

But the 23-year-old is set to leave Craven Cottage this summer as it emerged he can join another club if a bid of £10m is tabled.
The news will be of interest to a number of Premier League clubs ahead of the transfer window, with Arsenal and Newcastle believed to be among the clubs monitoring the defender’s situation.

Adarabioyo is expected to remain in the top flight next season following a string of impressive performances for Fulham.
His stats for last season were rated among the best in the Premier League for central defenders alongside the likes of Ruben Dias, Harry Maguire and John Stones.

The former Man City star was one of Fulham’s best players last season despite their relegation.
Indeed, Fulham received widespread praise for their defensive play last season – six teams conceding more goals than the Cottagers despite their bottom-three finish.

However, with Andersen’s loan spell from Lyon expired and Adarabioyo destined for a return to the Premier League – it is looking increasingly Fulham will be required to form a new central defensive partnership in the new season.
Adarabioyo was born in Manchester to Nigerian parents. He has represented England at the youth level, but according to FIFA rules, he can still feature for Nigeria.