Southampton are said to be interested in Millwall centre-back Jake Cooper, as per Football Insider.

What's the story?

The report says that due to the Saints' defensive struggles so far this season, Ralph Hasenhuttl is in the market for another centre-back, and Cooper is one man he is interested in.

Whilst the Championship side do not want to see the 25-year-old leave, they are bracing themselves for offers in the summer.

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Aerial strength

The south-coast side have been poor at the back so far this campaign. They have already conceded 51 goals in the top flight, which is only behind Aston Villa (52), and they even managed to ship nine in one game against Leicester City last year.

Cooper, though, has been an integral part of the Lions' back-line this term. They have conceded 40 times in 36 games so far, with only the top five being sturdier, and the former England U20 international has played in every single minute of those games so far.

It is in the air where he has particularly shown his prowess thanks to his 6 foot 4 frame. He has won 4.4 aerial battles per match, which equates to a success rate of 77% - that is slightly better than Jan Bednarek's record of 70%, and miles ahead of the 44% won by Jack Stephens.

Despite winning the seventh-most aerial duels per match in the Premier League with 21.7, only seven sides have conceded more than their nine strikes from set-pieces.

It would appear that they are facing a lot of aerial balls every game, but are not necessarily dealing with them in an efficient manner, and Cooper could help improve them in that area.

A Transfermarkt value of £3.15m would indicate that a huge bid would not be needed to prise him away from The Den. He is certainly one for Hasenhuttl to consider as he plans ahead for the next campaign.

Meanwhile, Southampton must avoid their own Eriksen situation with this star man.