Southampton have reportedly had a £3m bid accepted for Lyon striker Moussa Dembele as Nathan Jones edges closer to bolstering his attacking options.

What’s the news?

French News outlet Foot Mercato reported on Monday afternoon that Southampton submitted a late bid for the striker and, according to Football Scotland, the Saints have had their bid of £3m accepted with just under 24 hours left of the transfer window to thrash out personal terms.

The former Celtic frontman is out of contract at the Ligue 1 club at the end of the season, and it is clear that they are looking at cashing in on the player as they undergo an attacking revamp.

“Powerful” prospective addition

Southampton are in urgent need of someone who can pose a significant goal threat, with Jones’ side proving to be quite goal-shy during the Premier League campaign.

In 20 top-flight matches so far, they have netted just 17 goals, the joint-fourth worst record in the division. If they are to maximise their chances of retaining their Premier League status for next season, they need to work on this major issue.

Dembele has had a campaign to forget for Lyon, featuring 16 times but scoring only twice, and it’s evident that he needs a fresh start in order to get back to his goalscoring best. His decline from an impressive 2021/22 season will be something that Jones will hope is merely temporary.

Last term, the 26-year-old netted 21 goals in 30 appearances while achieving an excellent Sofascore rating of 7.11/10. The Frenchman was a constant goal threat, taking 2.9 shots and playing 0.9 key passes per match while also creating six big chances, proving how effective he was in leading the line for Lyon.

Overall, his record for Lyon has included 69 goals across nearly five years, and if Jones could get the Frenchman firing like he did last season, it could be a wonderful bargain which may just save Southampton from relegation.

Dembele's former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers previously dubbed him “powerful”, and the 26-year-old appears to have all the tools required to succeed in the Premier League.