Southampton make bid for ‘excellent’ forward but £39m Real Madrid deal poses major problem

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Even during the glory days of Luke Shaw, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk, the Real Madrid-bound Franco Mastantuono would likely have fallen well outside of Southampton’s then-Premier League powered transfer budget.

The fifteen-time European Champions have agreed a £39 million deal for the River Plate sensation.

Lucas Cepeda, reportedly available for around an eighth of the fee Real Madrid will spend to take Mastantuono to the Santiago Bernabeu, is more Southampton’s speed.

After Southampton made Joshua Quarshie their first signing of the summer, Colo-Colo forward Cepeda may be the next through the door at St Mary’s.

That is presuming Real Madrid, while fighting off competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United for Mastantuono’s fiercely-contested signature, have not just placed an insurmountable obstacle in The Saints’ path.

Real Madrid complicate things as Southampton make Lucas Cepeda bid

According to South American reporter Thiago Alvarez Rico, Southampton stepped up their pursuit of Lucas Cepeda over the last few days. A ‘formal offer’ has now arrived at Colo-Colo from the banks of the Solent.

But while the Chilean outfit have ‘decided to sell’ their prized asset, Colo-Colo are reluctant to budge on their £5 million asking price. Southampton’s initial offer sits just shy of that, landing at £4 million.

“The next few days will be crucial,” Alvarez Rico writes on his official X page.

But this is where Real Madrid come in, complicating matters.

Argentine giants River Plate appear to have settled on Cepeda as their preferred replacement for Franco Mastantuono. And with a £39 million windfall burning a hole in their back pocket, Southampton are unlikely to have it all their own way in pursuit of a man with three goals in his first seven caps for the Chilean national team.

“River will go all out for Lucas Cepeda,” reporter Renzo Pantich tells AZZ.

Chile star Lucas Cepeda plans to leave Colo-Colo this summer

Formerly of Santiago Wanderers, Cepeda scored eight goals while providing four assists as Colo-Colo claimed the Chilean league title in 2024.

To quote local publication 100DaleAlbo, Cepeda’s ‘excellent performances have amazed everyone and made him the star of the transfer market’. A throwback of sorts, the 22-year-old is a left-footed wideman who plays on the left.

Cepeda is blessed with an explosive shot from distance, and the self-confidence to try his luck no matter the opposition.

“I’ve seen everything that’s been said on social media [about my future],” Cepeda said last month while confirming his desire to leave Chilean football for a more high-profile competition.

“If it happens, it’s welcome. I would like to make the jump. I think it’s time. If [an opportunity to leave Colo-Colo] comes, it comes, and if not, I’ll keep working. Hopefully something good happens so we can achieve the dream all kids dream of, of going [abroad] to play.”

As Southampton plan to rebuild their roster in Will Still’s image, Sturm Graz right-back Max Johnston joins the likes of Lucas Cepeda on the radar of a club again prioritising young, hungry talents with considerable re-sale value.