Southampton lead Everton and Stoke in chase for Sporting defender Ruben Semedo

Claude Puel’s Southampton are leading Everton and Stoke City in the chase for Sporting CP defender Ruben Semedo, according to Portuguese newspaper Record (via Sport Witness).

The 23-year-old has enjoyed a fine season for Jorge Jesus’ side, starting 23 of their 33 Primeira Liga matches this term, and helping the team to third place in the table and qualification for the Champions League play-off round after a string of impressive performances.

And now Semedo, who made his Portugal Under-21 debut last year, is attracting interest from the Premier League after a decent campaign at Sporting, and it’s been reported that South Coast outfit Southampton are in ‘pole-position’ in pursuit of the highly-rated centre-back.

The Saints lost captain Jose Fonte to West Ham in the January transfer window and look set to lose towering Dutchman Virgil van Dijk in the summer amid intense interest from the top sides in England, and it appears that manager Puel is preparing for that by registering a keen interest in Semedo.

And although the 23-year-old reportedly has a release clause of €45 million, as a result of a contract he signed last year, the Record report that because Semedo has been out of the side in recent weeks, Sporting could be willing to listen to offers for the young defender.

And with Mark Hughes’ Stoke and Ronald Koeman’s Everton also thought to be interested, Puel and Southampton may need to act fast to bring their man to St Mary’s this summer.