Southampton agree deal to sign Ghana forward Kamaldeen Sulemana from Rennes

Southampton have reached an agreement with Rennes for the transfer of Ghana forward Kamaldeen Sulemana.

The 20-year-old has opted to join the Saints ahead of Everton, who made a verbal offer for him on Sunday. The Saints will pay Rennes €25million (£22m) up front with a further €3m (£2.6m) in add-ons.

Sulemana will pen a four-and-a-half-year deal with Southampton once he has completed a medical, which is currently being arranged.

The medical is expected to take place in France as Southampton look to push through a deal before Tuesday’s deadline.

He only joined Rennes last summer from Nordsjaelland in Denmark, however he was open to leaving the French side this month.

The highly-rated forward represented Ghana at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, featuring twice as a substitute as the Black Stars exited the competition at the group stage.

He left the tournament in Qatar as the fastest player, clocking up a top speed of 22.2mph in a group stage match against Uruguay.

Sulemana has struggled this season to command a starting berth at Rennes, racking up 20 appearances across all competitions, scored once and provided two assists.