PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are keeping tabs on Brazilian winger Tete ahead of a potential January move.
The Lyon winger, currently on loan in Ligue 1 from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, has long been a target of top Prem sides.
Southampton, Leicester City and Brentford all explored moves of around £25million in the summer and could again be in the market come January.
West Ham are also thought to have kept tabs on the player, who has five goals and three assists in 11 Ligue 1 games this season.
While Tete’s loan is until the end of the season, the Brazil Under-23 international is keen to move in January and any club look to strike a deal would have to find an arrangement to buyout the loan.
Shakhtar could be open to doing a deal given Tete’s contract in Ukraine expires next year and this could be a final chance to get a fee having lost a number of players for nothing following the invasion by Russia.
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Southampton are not expected to return in January with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s focus expected to be on landing an out-and-out striker after missing out on PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo in the summer.
Saints came close to striking a deal for Tete in the summer only to fall short of the winger’s wage demands.
Southampton have since waved goodbye to talent-spotter Joe Shields, who has joined Chelsea.
Shields’ official new role at Chelsea is Co-Director of Recruitment and Talent.
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He only joined Saints as chief scout in July after nine years at Manchester City.
Shields raided his old side for top youngsters including Romeo Lavia and Gavin Bazunu.
And Chelsea owner Todd Boehly hopes Shields can use his analytical skills to identify more top young talent.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
