Meet the winger Southampton want to sign that Will Still axed at RC Lens
Southampton has reportedly opened talks with RC Lens for winger Morgan Guilavogui. Despite no agreement on the fee yet, talks are on. The Saints are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements, with a lack of creativity and goal-scoring being evident in their opening Championship games.
🚨🔴⚪️ EXCL: Southampton open talks with RC Lens for Morgan Guilavogui with negotiations underway.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 18, 2025
No agreement on fee yet but talks on. pic.twitter.com/bKkaW6TtQO
It seems they have identified their man, but why have Technical Director Johannes Spors and manager Will Still supposedly picked the Guinea international?
Guilavogui did previously work under Will Still, but the manager and club decided to loan him out to St Pauli instead.
His Journey
Guilavogui was born in Ollioules, France, to a Guinean father and Moroccan mother. His professional path began with Paris FC, where he signed his first contract in May 2020. Just a few months later, he made his debut in Ligue 2, playing in a 2–1 win over Amiens. After firing 26 Ligue 2 goals in 63 appearances, he went to RC Lens.
The forward made a surprise switch in July 2024, joining German side FC St. Pauli on loan. The transfer proved a breakthrough, as he adapted quickly to the Bundesliga, scoring six goals and providing two assists in 25 league appearances, helping them ensure another year in the German first division. However, a two-month setback, due to an ankle injury, prevented him from featuring more.
St Pauli exercised their €3 million option to buy at the end of the season. His impressive performance had also attracted the attention of his parent club, RC Lens, which acted immediately by triggering their €4.5 million buy-back clause to bring him back to France.
On the international stage, the 27-year-old opted to represent Guinea, making his debut in November 2021, featuring in a 0–0 World Cup qualifying draw against Guinea-Bissau. This marked the start of his journey in African football.
Playing Style
Guilavogui’s profile stands out most in transition, where his pace and direct runs from out wide make him a constant counter-attacking threat. He’s able to combine that with simple and effective link play, often relying on quick layoffs and short passes to keep moves alive.
He also brings intensity without the ball, pressing hard and tackling with aggression. That approach means he wins fouls but also commits plenty, underlining the high-energy, high-risk style that defines much of his game.
Shooting & Finishing
Compared to other top -five league wingers, Morgan Guilavogui’s output shows efficiency when chances come his way. His Goals minus Expected Goals (G-xG) sits at a positive 0.09, placing him in the 86th percentile – a statistic demonstrating he outperformed his expected output. Despite averaging only 1.63 shots per game, his goal conversion percentage ranks in the 79th percentile, and he is in the 75th percentile for goals scored, which highlights that the Guinea international has a notably clinical edge in finishing.
While Guilavogui’s finishing efficiency is impressive, his underlying numbers show he’s also smart about where and when he shoots. His non-penalty expected goals (npxG) sit in the 53rd percentile, suggesting he finds himself in relatively dangerous positions and the chances he does take are of somewhat high quality, evidenced by his npxG per shot ranking in the 67th percentile.
Passing & Creativity
Off the ball, the winger shows flashes of creativity, with a creativity ratio in the 84th percentile, suggesting he contributes significantly to his team’s attacking ideas. However, his assist output and expected assists sit in the 38th percentile, indicating that while he can create opportunities, they don’t always directly lead to goals. He averages 0.61 key passes per 90 minutes, reflecting some influence in chance creation from open play.
The 27-year-old’s passing suggests he is more focused on taking chances himself than setting up teammates. His progressive passes average at just 3 per game, placing him in the 19th percentile, while his forward passes sit in the 45th percentile. This indicates that when he receives the ball, he’ll mainly look to recycle possession if he doesn’t intend to attempt a 1v1.
Dribbling & Crossing
In terms of role, Guilavogui wouldn’t be a direct replacement for Tyler Dibling, since he aligns more closely with Samuel Edozie, who is set to leave. Deployed by Will Still on the right flank in pre-season, Edozie was tasked with hugging the byline while also having the license to shoot on his stronger foot — similar to how Guilavogui operates. Dibling, on the other hand, is a left-footed winger often used centrally or on the left to cut inside, making his role and style of play quite different.
Guilavogui’s dribble success rate sits in the 51st percentile, meaning he wins just over half of his attempted take-ons. However, he attempts only around two dribbles per game, and his total successful dribbles rank in the 17th percentile, highlighting that while he can beat opponents, it isn’t a central feature of his game.
Crossing is another area where he has room to improve. The Guinean averages just one cross per match, placing him in the 14th percentile, with only 0.19 deliveries into the box per game. While he operates on the flanks, he isn’t yet a consistent source of wide service for teammates, which links back to his low dribble output — he rarely commits to taking on opponents, limiting his crossing opportunities.
Pressing and Aerial Capabilities
Pressing is central to Will Still’s approach. When the Saints travelled to Portman Road over the weekend, their game plan was clear: constantly press Ipswich and force them into long balls. The first half showcased near-total dominance out of possession, but the plan faltered after the break, as the team spent more time defending in and around the box. Fatigue seemed to play a role, highlighting why someone like Morgan Guilavogui could be a key addition.
His interceptions are in the 90th percentile, with over 3 averaged per 90! Offensively, however, he is less dominant in duels. His offensive duels and duels won both rank below the 20th percentile, with his offensive duel percentage in only the 31st percentile.
He wins possession in the 79th percentile, averaging six times per 90 minutes, alongside his aerial ability, which is exceptional, ranking in the 99th percentile, with almost three aerial duels won per game. His tackling sits in the 66th percentile, showing he can reliably disrupt opponents in multiple ways. Combined with his pressing and interception numbers, these stats underline that Guilavogui is not just a threat in attack but also a key component in regaining and maintaining possession.
Where Does He Fit?
Will Still employs a variety of formations based on personnel and opposition. Morgan Guilavogui is extremely versatile, with game time on both flanks and even up top. This flexibility will appeal to the Southampton manager, who will have to regularly deal with injuries in the 46-game Championship season.
Based on his profile, it seems that he will be fighting to start on the right flank due to the Saints’ lack of winger options. Still has even mentioned that he believes he has too many “inside forwards”; thus, he’s been resorting to three central defenders with wingbacks providing the attacking width.
Guilavogui’s versatility, work rate, and finishing ability make him an ideal tool for Still. Whether starting on the right, left or centrally, he offers a direct attacking threat and the energy to press. With Southampton eyeing up a creative midfielder, Guilavogui’s runs in behind could perfectly complement that signing and rejuvenate the Saints’ front line.
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