By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions. We in turn value your personal details in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Saints Confirm Wesley Hoedt Signing Tuesday, 22nd Aug 2017 20:15
Saints have tied down the signature of Wesley Hoedt from Lazio in a deal that has been expected for the last week , but in reality it is a a signing that should have been made last January to replace Jose Fonte.
Liverpool fans will be ecstatic to hear that Wesley Hoedt has joined Saints and crow that he is the replacement for Virgil Van Dijk who will now be certain to go to Anfield, but the reality is that he is replacing Jose Fonte and it is something that should have happened back in January
In a press statement released at 7.40pm this evening Saints announced.
Southampton Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Dutch international centre-back Wesley Hoedt, from Lazio.
The sought-after 23-year-old today put pen to paper on a five-year contract at St Mary’s, becoming Saints' third arrival of the summer.
Hoedt, who began his career at AZ Alkmaar in his home country, moved to Lazio in 2015, going on to establish himself as one of the top young talents on the continent.
He made his senior international debut earlier this year and has since become a regular fixture in the Netherlands squad.
Vice Chairman (Football) Les Reed said: “Wesley is one of the most promising young defenders in Europe and represents a significant addition to our squad. Having procured a Champions League finalist from one Italian club we have now added an Italian Supercoppa winner from another.
“We believe he has all the qualities to play a big part in our future, and we have worked hard to bring him to Southampton, with a number of other high-profile clubs interested in him.
"Finding a top quality central defender is difficult in the current environment and now we have six internationals in this position, both young and experienced.
"Finding a naturally left-footed player is even more difficult. We have been tracking central defenders on our target list for the past 12 months and Wesley has always been at the top of that list, so it was important to act when the opportunity came.”
“Wesley has proven his talent through his performances for Lazio, as well as the Netherlands, and we believe he can develop even further here at Southampton, alongside his international teammate Virgil van Dijk, as well as the likes of Jack Stephens, Maya Yoshida, Jan Bednarek and Florin Gardos.
“With Wesley joining those players, we believe we have the right amount of quality, depth and flexibility at centre-back to help us achieve our aims this season.”
Wesley Hoedt commented: "I'm really happy to be here. I think Southampton is a really big club, so it's a good next step for me to come here and to play in the Premier League and try to help the best I can."
Photo: Action Images
Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
Excellent signing. We now have real options in our defence.
It'll be really interesting to see if the club continue to play hardball with VVD now. I'd still like to see him having to play for the reserves all season, as Voltaire would say "pour encourager les autres".
TeamCortese, too much claptrap these days about people apologising for perceived wrong doings but what does an apology actually achieve? It is only a word and in no way brings closure to any situation. How did Mr Blair's apology help the ordinary people of Iraq even if it made a few bellicose twits feel good about themselves here.
Expecting an apology is a distraction. If we really want him to stay and re-integrate then the club must find a positive way to coax him back into the fold not ram his back up against a wall by demanding a worthless apology. I hope Les is a bigger man than that, he is not dealing with school kids in the park.
It will be far easier to alienate the man further by poorly chosen tactics than win him back but the way Les talks suggests he is up for the challenge. The question is does he have the PR skills to pull this trick off?
Interesting to see if this signing could potentially throw a lifeline back to VvD since it's plausible that he will want to play alongside his compatriot.
We have had a quite good track record in recent years of signing relatively young unknown CB's and turning them into international stars who have then attracted the attention of so-called top clubs.
The signing of Wesley Hoedt can only be met with excitement therefore with every expectation that he will be another gem. It is not inevitable that he will move on in a year or two if we can keep our current crop of top players and actually get ourselves into the top 6 or even top 4.
It is up to us to make it a no-brainer for the player to want to stay here and the board seem at long last to have got the message.
Not that I want them to be sold but what would we get for Yoshi or Jack? A figure near the price of Wes H. perhaps. In this crazy world of transfer fees it is very difficult to say what is a good or correct price
With SaintBrock, you're probably right (although it does feel very cynical). My only issue is what else can we do to end the friction with him and the rest Saints FC community? Of course, Davis will say the players will welcome him back; however, no player will say the opposite in the media. Look at what Tottenham did to Danny Rose for being honest...it's all about wages.
With regards to strikers I would like us to put a cheeky bid in for Benteke. However, as he's out of our price range, this chap at Porto doesn't look too bad ;)
Can't help feeling this signing will prompt the sale of vvd, and my guess is chelea. Hope i'm wrong. Creativity and goals from our midfield needs adressing.
Another good signing. (Think also he might attract another sort of attention, as he does look to a good-looking ***). However looks aside, the " Reed suggestion " of him playing alongside VvD does leave the door open for reconciliation should Virgil want to recant. otherwise-..what will happen to Jack and Maya's partnership ? It's really sad to think that they might have to spend half a season on the bench..but am I the only one who thinks that a 3-5-2 formation might solve a number of problems in one go?
Obviously some sympathy goes to the displaced squad members, seemingly Clasie being the first victim, but the signings of Lemina and Hoedt have added the sort of quality we have been dreaming about for years. For those who criticise the club and Les Reed in particular surely it's time to see that patience, whilst frustrating and nerve wracking, can pay dividends? I have been as frustrated as most that the club was being complacent, gambling that Yoshi and Jack would paper the ever widening defensive cracks till vvd stopped sulking, but this is the sort of signing that will fill those empty seats, create demand and take us forward. With the arrival of Hoedt and Lemina I believe we are on the brink of something very special at sfc and that top six finish is no longer mission impossible. It's early days and we haven't seen the rebuilding completed but the foundations are now looking solid.
What price Gardos and Clasie leaving in the next 7 days? I also feel sorry for Bedarnek...joined to develop his career and is now 5th choice with no chance of playing. We now have good cover in every position and I am feeling really positive about this season...bring it on.
We’re extremely heavy with central defenders now, it will be interesting to see what happens in January but I expect us to ship out Gardos, and to sell VvD after the World Cup. This will leave us with Hoedt being partnered by Yoshi until one of the younger defenders is ready to step up.
I think we have the firepower we need in the squad, it just needs to start firing. I really hope that Long can recapture his form.
Kreuger and Reed really have to see this one through now. Clearly many fans as expressed on here still do not trust them on their word, they will know that and also that the trust of the fans must be earned if we are to" march on as one"; they and fans need to have no doubts about each other.
Kreuger and Reed have said repeatedly that van Dyke and Cedric are not for sale and so far so good yet fans are still edgy and disbelieving. There is some way to go yet to get everyone back on the same hymn sheet obviously
For that reason alone it seems to me that the window will end with those players still being here. K & R are not stupid enough to go back on their word now and causing irreparable damage to the fanbase. Far too much has been said on the subject. The circumstances have not changed, there were no 'if's' and 'buts'. They didn't say vD is not for sale UNLESS did they? No!
The two new signings are meant far more as a huge signal of intent and incentive to fans and first team senior players to hang in there rather than the actual value of the players themselves. They've come from big clubs and are internationals that's all that needs to be said. The fact that neither has cost the club much more than we got for a 3rd or 4th choice striker that we let go can be glossed over for now.
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
