Southampton among clubs linked to Bordeaux's Hwang Ui-jo

Hwang Ui-jo [AFP/YONHAP]

Bordeaux's Hwang Ui-jo is the latest Korean player to be caught up in transfer rumors, with a number of English and German teams reportedly interested in the strike.

According to French football news website Foot Mercato, both English Premier League club Southampton and Bundesliga side Wolfsburg are interested in the 28-year-old striker, among other clubs.

Hwang still has two years left on a four-year deal with Bordeaux, where he has been hugely successful, leading the club in scoring last season. Despite that, the Korean forward has been linked to transfer rumors all summer as his cash-strapped club was in desperate need of funding.

Bordeaux was placed in administration in April. The combination of the loss of revenue from ticket sales caused by Covid-19 and the bankruptcy of TV rights' holder Mediapro created serious financial issues for the club, with problems worsening when American owner King Street said it would no longer support the club financially.

In July, the club was bought by entrepreneur Gerard Lopez, possibly fixing the club's money woes. Whether that means a Hwang deal is likely to still be on the cards remains to be seen.

If Hwang is available for purchase, there's likely to be lots of interest. In May, Hwang was named in the "Five Ligue 1 stars to look out for this summer" article published on the official Ligue 1 website, highlighting five key players who could change teams.

"One of very few rays of sunshine in a dreadful year for Bordeaux, Hwang has scored 11 league goals in a team that has been sucked into the relegation battle in the second half of the season," the Ligue 1 article said.

It's likely that Lopez will be keen to have the club hold on to its most important players as it tries to rebuild, but if other clubs are serious about the striker, the right offer could sway the new owner.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]