Jannik who? How 'the new Pique' Salisu is helping Southampton forget

 

After a season of adaptation at St Mary’s, the Ghana defender is beginning to demonstrate his worth, to rave reviews and interest from abroad

Transfer interest from Barcelona is hardly the ringing endorsement it once was, with the Spanish giants in such an uncharacteristically weak position following a half-decade of financial mismanagement.

However, perhaps the biggest marker of how much Mohammed Salisu has come on since his move to Southampton in the summer of 2020 is the fact that the Catalan side, according to Los Fichajes, have earmarked him as a replacement for none other than Gerard Pique.

That’s the same Pique who, in the minds of many, is lined up for at least an ambassadorial role at the club on the basis of his commitment and quality of service over close to 15 years.