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Southampton reported to have stepped up Ntcham interest with two other EPL clubs linked

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Image for Southampton reported to have stepped up Ntcham interest with two other EPL clubs linked

Olivier Ntcham is a transfer target for three clubs with Southampton once again looking towards Celtic for recruitment.

Victor Wanyama, Fraser Forster and Virgil van Dijk have all taken that route in the past with the French midfielder mentioned earlier this summer as part of a deal to get Forster back to Celtic. West Ham and Everton are also linked with an interest.

The arrival of Vasilis Barkas brought the Forster option to a halt but with Ntcham starting the season outside of Celtic’s starting XI it is no surprise that English clubs will be considering a move.

Celtic signed the Frenchman from Manchester City in July 2017, despite Moussa Dembele moving to Lyon Ntcham signed a new Celtic contract in November 2018 which runs until at least the summer of 2022.

Taking the story from a Southampton angle 90min.com reports:

It’s been confirmed to 90min that Southampton are back on his trail after selling former captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Tottenham last week.

The Dane was allowed to leave St Mary’s in a deal worth up to £25m after informing the club that he wouldn’t be extending his contract, which was due to expire next summer.

Southampton may need to act swiftly if they want to land Ntcham – who has just one year left on his Celtic contract and is available for around £20m – with Everton and West Ham also now hot on his heels. Both sides are in the market for midfield reinforcements after disappointing 2019/20 Premier League campaigns, and both have significant pulling power when it comes to paying wages.

Ntcham is interested in moving back to the Premier League, and has a point to prove after failing to make the grade at Manchester City as a teenager. He spent five years in the club’s academy after moving to England from Le Havre, but failed to make an appearance for the club – instead spending two full seasons on loan at Genoa between 2015 and 2017.

With Celtic spending close to £10m on Barkas and Albian Ajeti it wouldn’t be a surprise if someone was sold to balance out those moves.

Losing Ntcham would be a blow for Neil Lennon and most fans but if it ensures another season of Odsonne Edouard at Celtic it’ll be much more acceptable.

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