Southampton transfer news: Saints sign talented young stopper Mouez Hassen on loan
Nice allow France Under-21s star to reunite with Claude Puel at St Mary's until the end of the season
SOUTHAMPTON have signed France Under-21s stopper Mouez Hassen from OCG Nice.
The starlet will join the Saints on loan until the end of the season as a back-up option.
Hassen, 21, worked with Claude Puel at Nice and is relishing the chance to link up with his former boss.
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He said: “I am really happy. It’s a pleasure for me to come to England for the first time and I am really happy to get to know the Premier League.
“I am really looking forward to joining the team.”
Saints' director of football Les Reed - responsible for much of the club's transfer policy - added: “Mouez is a promising young goalkeeper, and we are very pleased to have been able to bring him to Southampton.
“He has built an excellent reputation during his time with Nice and also in his country’s youth teams, and will provide us with further depth in the months ahead."
Southampton are also close to wrapping up their £17million swooop for Napoli hitman Manolo Gabbiadini, 25.
Puel lost skipper Jose Fonte's to West Ham and Virgil van Dijk to an ankle injury.
But Spartak Moscow's German international defender Serdar Tasci is coming in.