Tyler Dibling is doing his best to block out talk of a £100million move to Manchester United – but Southampton team-mate Aaron Ramsdale isn’t making it easy.
United are reportedly plotting a swoop for the 19-year-old winger if they win the Europa League with the Saints are said to have slapped a three-figure price tag on the teenage sensation.
Dibling has become one of the most sought-after youngsters in the Premier League as one of the few bright sparks in relegated Southampton’s gloomy season.
All the noise hasn’t gone unnoticed in the dressing room either as Dibling revealed keeper Ramsdale is taking great pleasure in knocking millions off with every wayward effort.
‘Rambo loves it,’ said Dibling. ‘I’ll miss a shot in training and he’ll just go: “£90million! £80million!” as it keeps going down. It’s all good fun. There’s a few nicknames going around. It’s all jokes. Nobody takes it seriously. It’s just a number. It’s all fun.
‘I don’t try to think about it and just try and go into train every day and work hard and train the best I can. At the end of the day, I love Southampton. I have been here since I was eight. It is such a great team and I am working to do big things with them.’
Southampton’s Tyler Dibling admitted he is trying to block out talk of a move to Man United
United are reportedly planning a move for Dibling, who Southampton are said to value at £100m
Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has joked in training about Dibling’s price tag
You imagine Southampton keeper Ramsdale was doing some more quick maths on the team bus back from the London Stadium after Dibling blazed a great late chance over the bar in Southampton’s draw at West Ham.
‘I should have scored! I tried to go high because I saw the keeper coming. It was with my right foot and it just went a bit too high but hopefully I get the next one.’
Fortunately for Dibling, he was not left to rue his missed chance as Lesley Ugochukwu smashed in the equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time.
The result moved Southampton level with Derby’s all-time record low tally of 11 points and ensured Saints will not go down as the lone worst Premier League team of all time, much to Dibling’s relief.
‘Obviously, nobody wants to be the worst team in the history of the league,’ added Dibling. ‘I don’t want to be, and none of the squad wants to be so that’s what we are trying to do, get a point, get a couple more points so we don’t have that title above our heads.’
