Southampton sign Keven Schlotterbeck and weigh Henrik Falchener, who could match Virgil Van Dijk’s levels

Southampton have eased defensive concerns by signing Keven Schlotterbeck from Augsburg after Jack Stephens endured another difficult night against West Ham United mid-week.

The centre-back brings significant Bundesliga experience and is expected to handle the Championship’s demands, with Tonda Eckert indicating he can contribute immediately. According to Sainstmarching.com, the club may not stop there, with an £8m bid said to be on the table for Viking defender Henrik Falchener.

When Virgil Van Dijk arrived from Celtic for £13m, there was no guarantee he would settle, yet he did, scoring three league goals in his first season and dominating in the air.

He averaged 7.3 duels won and was described by then-chairman Les Reed in 2016 as among the Premier League’s best. After 80 Saints games he joined Liverpool for £75m in 2018, going on to lift the Champions League once and the league title twice. The 96-cap Netherlands international is now 35 and widely viewed as one of the division’s outstanding defenders.

Falchener helped Viking reach the Champions League by knocking out Dinamo Zagreb over two legs, registering an assist in the second leg comeback. He averaged six duels won per league match last year and has also drawn interest from Wrexham. If he excels quickly in England, he could follow a Van Dijk-style path, with a Premier League move potentially next.

Source: Sainstmarching.com

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