According to reports from German media outlet Sportbild, Southampton are one of five Premier League clubs tracking Werder Bremen striker Max Kruse this summer.
After enjoying an impressive season for the Bundesliga outfit and helping them to an eighth-place finish, the 29-year-old attacker is said to be a target for Saints, Everton, West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City.
Whether manager Claude Puel leaves or not this summer, the south coast outfit will be looking to strengthen their squad as they look to qualify for the Europa League again next season following an eighth-place finish in the top flight themselves.
After scoring just 17 goals at home throughout the league campaign and just 41 in 38 matches in total, a new striker could be a priority as the club look to solve their goalscoring issues.
Here are three reasons Southampton must win the race to sign Kruse…
They need a striker
With the futures of Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long in doubt and with the goals drying up for Manolo Gabbiadini towards the end of the campaign, it is clear that Southampton need to bring in a new striker this summer.
There is no doubt that more competition is needed up top, and while Charlie Austin may provide that on his return from injury, the south coast outfit may feel that they need another option to ensure that they don’t have another disappointing campaign in front of goal.
He has a decent goal record
While Kruse didn’t enjoy a particularly good 2015/16 season with Wolfsburg before joining Werder Bremen, the striker has been consistently prolific elsewhere.
He scored 37 goals in three consecutive Bundesliga seasons from 2012 to 2015 while he enjoyed his best campaign in the German top flight this term after netting 15 times in just 23 appearances for Werder.
Southampton know they need goals if they are to qualify for Europe next season and the 29-year-old looks to be a guaranteed source.
He could be available for a good price
Werder Bremen could sell Kruse for just £10.5million this summer as part of a clause inserted in his contract when he joined them last year.
Having scored 15 goals in 23 league games this season and shown how he is able to consistently find the net in recent years, he’s an absolute bargain for that kind of money.
Southampton are yet to break the £20m barrier when it comes to buying players, so Kruse certainly fits their profile of potential signing.
Do you agree, Saints fans? Let us know below.
