Southampton striker Daniel N'Lundulu has been linked with a move to La Liga side Real Betis recently but the Southampton board should ensure that he is still with the club at the end of the month.
What's the word?
French news outlet Foot Mercato have claimed that Real Betis are interested in signing the 21-year-old and that they could make an approach for him this month.
The Saints academy ace has been on the fringes of Ralph Hasenhuttl's squad this season after impressing with David Horseman's B team.
Semmens must stand firm:
So far this season, N'Lundulu has made six appearances in the Premier League, all of which have come from the bench. The youngster also has five goals and one assist in just seven appearances for the B team, which certainly suggests he is ready to play with the senior side.
The form of Danny Ings and Che Adams so far this season has perhaps limited the youngster's appearances for Hasenhuttl's side but it certainly looks as if he has a bright future with the South Coast club, so it would be foolish to let him go to Betis.
N'Lundulu earned the praise of Hasenhuttl along with the other under-23 players that are pushing for a spot in the first-team, saying:
“He’s a type of striker we don’t have in our side so far. He gives us physical options, can keep the ball very well.
“He’s also learned to work hard in front. This was something our youth have to learn and in the past month, we were working a lot with the under-23s and with these teams.
“They are more and more adapted to what we are doing here in the first team and it is nice to see when they are coming out, they are now on a different level.”
With Moussa Djenepo and Nathan Redmond both currently sidelined, we might see Theo Walcott on the wing more often in Southampton's upcoming fixtures, which could, in turn, allow the likes of N'Lundulu to be given more of a chance up front.
Certainly, the 21-year-old's record with the B team, where he has 12 goals and three assists in 29 appearances, suggests that he has an eye for goal and a future in Hasenhuttl's side, so Martin Semmens and the rest of the Southampton board should not even consider negotiating with Real Betis in January, should they make an official approach.
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