Leeds’ Pontus Jansson tops Southampton list to replace skipper Virgil van Dijk
Saints monitor the Swedish hardman as they wait for bids to come in for their Dutch centre-back after his superb season
SOUTHAMPTON want Leeds' Swedish strong man Pontus Jansson to fill Virgil van Dijk’s boots.
The Saints have put Jansson at the top of their shopping list as they wait for the big bids to come in for their Dutch skipper.
Jansson, 26, has been immense for Leeds since joining them from Torino and Southampton see him as the perfect replacement for Van Dijk.
The powerful centre-half will only join Leeds in a full-time £3.5million deal at the end of the season after spending the campaign on loan.
However, Southampton are prepared to offer THREE times as much to attempt to buy him in the summer.
Leeds will struggle to keep Jansson if they miss out on promotion but will hope to have a fighting chance if the Elland Road club return to the Premier League.
And the 6ft 4in Swede proved steely when he stood up to a fan who ran on during Friday’s 1-1 draw at Newcastle.
Southampton switched to Jansson after failing to land Mamadou Sakho from Liverpool.
He went to Crystal Palace on loan instead and now has his pick of moves.