Wages a problem for Southampton’s ambitious Atletico Madrid raid

Southampton want to hand Nicolas Gaitan a way out of Atletico Madrid but it would require the winger taking a significant pay-cut, reports The Daily Mail. 

Gaitan is free to leave Atletico this month after failing to make any impression under Diego Simeone.

The Argentina international has been a huge disappointment since making the £21m move from Benfica in 2016 and now Southampton are chasing his signature.

However, Gaitan’s current £100,000-a-week deal isn’t due to expire until 2020 and Southampton will not stretch their budge that far for the 29-year-old.

Gaitan has only started one La Liga match this season and racked up just 217 minutes of playing time spread over six appearances.

In fact, the last goal he scored for Atletico was in a pre-season friendly against Premier League side Brighton and his place at the 2018 World Cup is in serious doubt.