Southampton can land their new Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as midfielder reacts to Saints links.

Despite Southampton’s recent struggles, it will take more than a couple of Premier League relegations to tarnish the Saints’ image as renowned young talent developers.

The days of Virgil van Dijk, Luke Shaw, and Sadio Mane are long past. However, Romeo Lavia, Tino Livramento, and Nathan Tella, three players who left St Mary’s for a combined £105 million, owe a lot to a Southampton team that is still as devoted to giving young players an opportunity. It’s fitting that Joshua Quarshie was Southampton’s first acquisition of the summer. A 20-year-old Germany youth standout joins in a £3.5 million transfer from Hoffenheim. Will Still’s team is apparently interested in Max Johnston, Sturm Graz’s 21-year-old right-back. Another young Saints target is Chilean winger Lucas Cepeda, and Christos Mandas of Lazio has been mooted as a possible successor for Aaron Ramsdale.

Mandas is also the oldest of the three, at only 23 years old. “This football club has development as one of the main headlines,” technical director Johannes Spors told TNT Sport recently, citing Tyler Dibling and adolescent Jay Robinson as two players capable of bringing joy to the banks of the Solent. “We need to work together on this. This is the most crucial thing. [Dibling] is a terrific example, not to mention Jay Robinson, the next young guy we gave his debut to.

“I will always be open to integrate young players.” Elfsborg’s Besfort Zeneli, with his boyish expression and 22 candles on his most recent birthday cake, is another candidate who fits in well with Southampton’s sign-low, sell-high, develop-and-profit recruitment strategy.

Elfsborg ace Besfort Zeneli reacts to Southampton transfer links

Southampton reportedly dispatched scouts to watch Besfort Zeneli during Elfsborg’s 2-0 loss to Hammarby at the end of March. Zeneli, a central midfielder with three caps for the Swedish national team, has piqued the interest of Bundesliga newcomers FC Cologne and the City Football Group, which owns not only Manchester City but also Girona, Troyes, and Palermo, after delivering seven assists in 31 games last season. And, speaking with Expressen this week, Zeneli refused to rule out a move that might see him follow in the footsteps of Van Dijk, Mane, and, more recently, Lavia, Livramento, and Tella.

“Yes, a little bit,” Zeneli said when asked if he felt the need for a new challenge. “For a year, I’ve played consistently, generated good performances, and made two appearances for the national team. But I am not in a rush. “I don’t have to move or stay. I prefer to approach things day by day. When I return back to my club, maybe I’ll talk to [my agent]. “I haven’t spoken with the club about it. I know Stefan mentioned that they wanted to sell me for a few million, but I haven’t had any interactions with them about it. “There are insane prices in football these days. But I do not know.”

Besfort could be a Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg style addition to Saints midfield

Elfsborg’s director, Stefan Andreasson, admits that his best asset is likely to depart sooner than later. He sees Zeneli’s climb from the academy to the first team as a ‘great’ story, though one that may be coming to an end. “Everything should feel correct. I’m in a great place; I’ve been with Elfsborg since I was five years old, and it doesn’t get any better than this. At the same time, you want to advance as a player,” says Zeneli, evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of leaving his beloved employers. “But I have nice friends around me, and their thoughts will also assist.

“I mostly watch the Allsvenskan, but [a transfer] won’t happen within the Allsvenskan. I think I have a playing style that suits many leagues.”

Zeneli, an agile and silky midfielder, drew the attention of Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tommasson because of his confidence in possession and willingness to take risks with the ball at his feet. On paper, he appears to be a strong fit for Southampton, which is projected to dominate the majority of its Championship games next season. Zeneli was also excellent out of possession, with an average of 3.6 tackles per game in the Europa League last season. Because of the breadth of his skill set, he has similarities to Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg, the former Saints captain. Zeneli may potentially fill a vacuum left by Flynn Downes’ departure, with Russell Martin’s Rangers reportedly interested in the Southampton star.

“He does very good things, is brave, and wants the ball,” Tomasson tells SVT of Zeneli. “He plays close to the opponents, in small spaces, and moves the ball forward.”

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