Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez may be forced out of St Mary’s if Manolo Gabbiadini arrives from Napoli
Claude Puel's side have agreed a £17million deal to beat Premier League rivals to the Italian forward
JAY RODRIGUEZ could be on his way out of Southampton after they agreed a £17million deal for Napoli striker Manolo Gabbiadini.
Saints beat a host of clubs, including Premier League rivals West Ham and Everton, to land the Italy international, 25.
They will pay £14m up front with the rest in add-ons after Gabbiadini agreed a four-year, £40,000-a-week move.
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And it could spell the end of 27-year-old Rodriguez’s St Mary’s career.
The ex-England forward, who missed the entire 2014-15 season with a serious knee injury, is a £15m target for West Brom.
Gabbiadini will become the second most expensive signing in Southampton’s history behind Moroccan winger Sofiane Boufal, who cost £16m from Lille last summer.
Frontman Gabb has 15 goals in 55 Serie A games and won six Italy caps so far.
Saints boss Claude Puel is also considering a move for Celtic’s Erik Sviatchenko.
Puel wants the Dane to replace crocked Virgil van Dijk, 25, amid fears the Dutch centre-back’s ankle injury is long term.
Leicester have also been tracking 25-year-old Sviatchenko but have other targets higher on their wishlist.