Southampton battle Championship rivals for defender who was once on Celtic’s radar

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Southampton are working hard to get themselves ready for the 2025/26 Championship campaign, and they have already made two major signings this summer.

Mauricio Pochettino persuaded Damion Downs to join the Saints, while Joshua Quarshie has made his way to St. Mary’s to help shore up the defence after a record-breaking 2024/25 Premier League campaign for all the wrong reasons.

Will Still has plenty to do to ensure that his team are pushing for promotion by the time May comes around, but after missing out on Joe Mendes, there is another centre-back who has got the attention of the Hampshire outfit.

However, Southampton face competition from a fellow Championship side for his signature.

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Southampton battle Watford for Xavier Mbuyamba

It’s a summer of change at St. Mary’s and the Saints are letting go of plenty of players, and ensuring that they have a defence capable of pushing for the league title is crucial.

Therefore, a move for Volendam centre-back Xavier Mbuyamba makes sense, but Southampton are battling against Watford for the signature of the 23-year-old, as per Anthony Joseph.

Celtic showed an interest in the defender in 2023, while Watford enquired about the services of the Dutchman that same summer.

Volendam are happy to sell Mbuyamba before the transfer window slams shut on 1 September, and a move looks as though it could happen sooner rather than later.

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Xavier Mbuyamba could be one to watch

A relatively unknown player to many in the EFL, the 23-year-old is clearly a talent and Southampton will be keen to get a deal done after a dreadful season from a defensive standpoint in 2024/25.

Mbuyamba’s contract at Volendam expires next summer, and he has excellent pedigree from his days in U21s and U18s football, having played for both Chelsea and Barcelona in his younger days.

He played 34 times in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie last season, the second tier of Dutch football, and he has scored 10 goals in his last two seasons from centre-back.

With his age on his side, Still may have the perfect project to work on with the defender. His current team are happy to sell meaning that Southampton may just have a talent on their hands if they do outbid Watford.