Southampton MAKE improved bid of £10m for Swansea’s Nathan Wood… with Russell Martin eyeing the England youth international as a replacement for Germany-bound Armel Bella-Kotchap
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Southampton have made a revised bid for Swansea City defender Nathan Wood of around £8million plus add-ons.
The England U21 international is understood to have informed Swansea that he would like to link up with former manager Russell Martin.
Swansea head coach Michael Duff confirmed a first bid had been rejected for the 21-year-old, but Southampton have returned with an offer worth up to £10m.
Southampton are keen to strengthen at centre-back with Armel Bella-Kotchap attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich and after the departures of Mohammed Salisu and Duje Caleta-Car. Lyanco also has interest from clubs in Europe and his native Brazil.
Southampton’s offer is still believed to fall below Swansea’s asking price. They paid around £300,000 to sign him from Middlesbrough last summer.
Southampton have made a revised bid for Swansea City defender Nathan Wood (pictured left) of around £8million plus add ons
Southampton’s offer is still believed to fall below Swansea’s asking price. They paid around £300,000 to sign him from Middlesbrough last summer
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The pacy centre-back, who clocked 13 seconds for the 100m as a teenager, has been capped at under 21 level and made 43 appearances for Swansea last season under Russell Martin and four so far this season, scoring his first league goal in the 3-2 defeat to West Brom earlier this month.
Wood has a year to run on the two-year contract he signed in June 2022, with an option for a further 12 months.
When asked if he sees Wood as part of his plans, Swansea boss Duff said: ‘He’s started every game so far so I think that suggests yes.
‘It’s a sign of having good players. If no-one was bidding for any of the players, we’d be useless. We think we’ve got some good players, Woody’s another one of those.
‘He’s got loads of work to do but he’s got a high ceiling because of his football ability and his physical attributes as well.
‘As an ex centre-half, I’ll try and help him as much as I can and we’ll see what happens.’
Swansea sold striker Joel Piroe to Leeds United on Thursday for £12m. The Dutch forward agreed a four year contract.
