Southampton are in the market for attacking reinforcements between now and transfer deadline day on September 1.
Southampton drew 1-1 at Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon to continue their unbeaten start to the season under Will Still.
With the season underway, the future of in-demand Saints star Tyler Dibling hangs in the balance, and Southampton are targeting recruits on the flanks as a result.
Ahead of the Ipswich clash, reports emerged that Southampton are eyeing Leo Scienza, but the Saints must pay a “minimum” £8.6m fee to sign the Heidenheim winger.
As well as the Scienza interest, the Saints have also entered talks for a winger with 17 international caps, who is a familiar face to head coach Still.
Morgan Guilavogui of RC Lens controls the ball during the Ligue 1 match between RC Lens and Olympique Lyonnais
Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images
Southampton ‘open talks’ with RC Lens for winger Morgan Guilavogui
After the Ipswich draw, Still admitted Southampton need to improve defensively, but off the field, the Saints boss is also looking for reinforcements.
Despite Everton being in talks for Dibling, Still reintroduced the English starlet to the squad to face Ipswich, with the 19-year-old coming on as a late substitute.
Amid the Dibling to Everton saga, Saints boss Still praised Dibling’s professionalism, but it now appears that his potential replacement has been targeted.
Southampton have now entered talks with Ligue 1 giants RC Lens, Still’s former employers, to sign winger Morgan Guilavogui.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed on X: “Southampton open talks with RC Lens for Morgan Guilavogui with negotiations underway. No agreement on fee yet but talks on.”
🚨🔴⚪️ EXCL: Southampton open talks with RC Lens for Morgan Guilavogui with negotiations underway.
No agreement on fee yet but talks on. pic.twitter.com/bKkaW6TtQO
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 18, 2025
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Guilavogui joined Lens from Paris FC in 2023, and spent last season on loan at Bundesliga outfit St. Pauli during Still’s one-season stint in charge of Lens.
Southampton manager Will Still before game vs Wrexham AFC in Sky Bet Championship
Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Morgan Guilavogui’s career statistics ahead of Southampton talks
Amid Still’s arrival at Lens, Guilavogui was sent out on loan to the Bundesliga side; therefore, it is unclear whether that was Still’s decision or the Lens hierarchy’s.
27-year-old Guilavogui enjoyed an impressive campaign at St. Pauli, scoring seven goals and notching four assists in 27 appearances.
Statistic SC Toulon Paris FC Lens St. Pauli
Appearances 55 69 29 27
Goals 12 32 2 7
Assists 0 9 0 4
Morgan Guilavogui’s career statistics.
Guilavogui’s best career form to date came at Paris FC between 2021 and 2023, during which he scored 32 goals and made nine assists in 69 games for the Ligue 2 outfit to court the transfer attention of Lens.
At the international level, Guilavogui has 17 international caps for Guinea, with just one goal and one assist on record.
Despite Jay Robinson shining for Southampton in the absence of Dibling from the starting XI, Guilavogui would offer Still a more experienced option, with the Guinean able to operate on both flanks.