Southampton fortify midfield by signing Diallo for reported £12.7M fee

Southampton finally filled the hole left by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's summer departure Sunday with the signing of Ibrahima Diallo from Ligue 1's Brest.

The 23-year-old Frenchman cost the Saints around £12.7 million, according to The Athletic, and signed a four-year contract on the south coast.

"He is an important signing for us, because in midfield we only have so many alternatives, and he showed in France that he is a fantastic midfield player," Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said.

Hasenhuttl added: "He's a very smart one, a very clever one, he reads the game very well. He's also quick and dynamic, against the ball very aggressive and with the ball, also with good decision-making, so he is a player who I think fits perfectly in our team."

Hojbjerg left Southampton for Tottenham for £15 million in August. Southampton's attempt to buy Ibrahim Sangare from Toulouse as his replacement fell short after the Ivorian wasn't granted a visa, The Athletic reports. Sangare eventually joined PSV Eindhoven.

Diallo apparently attracted interest from Leicester City, Arsenal, and AS Monaco before completing his switch to Southampton.