Southampton: Djenepo, 5 goals in 86 Premier League games

Moussa Djenepo ? The name sounded like a statement of intent in 2019. Many Southampton fans thought they were finally getting over Sadio Mané, who had left for Liverpool three years earlier. The publicity surrounding the Mali international's arrival had cemented his nickname as the "new Sadio Mané". The Saints paid £15 million, or 17 million euros, to sign the man who would soon become a former Standard Liege player, in Belgium.

Since arriving at Southampton in 2019, Moussa Djenepo is now regarded as a real flop. The Malian still struggles to show he has a goalscorer's talent, if he has one at all. In Belgium, a less physical league than the Premier League, Djenepo scored only 11 goals. That was in 2018-2019, his best professional return.

5 goals in 196 weeks on the south coast of England

In England, over 196 weeks, Djenepo has scored just 5 goals and provided 4 assists in 86 appearances. That is alarming given that the winger was supposed to replace the Senegalese star. It hasn't worked out... Not everyone can be Sadio Mané.

What is more, this season Djenepo has been shuttling between the reserves and the first team (6 games). His time at St. Mary's Stadium has indeed not been a success.

On a salary of £65,000 a week (74 thousand euros), Moussa Djenepo (24) is starting to prove costly for Southampton (20th, 23 points), who are in serious trouble in the Premier League. Relegation is even looming for the club, who cannot count on Djenepo's goalscoring talents.

Jim CEESAY