Agent: 'Manolo Gabbiadini wants to stay at Southampton'

The agent of Italy striker Manolo Gabbiadini has confirmed that his client wishes to stay at Southampton.

The 26-year-old scored six goals in his first five games, including two in the EFL Cup final at Wembley, after joining the club for £15m in January 2017.

However, the former Napoli forward was rumoured to be homesick and eager to return to his native country after losing his first-team place for much of last term.

Lazio were one of the clubs said to be interested in Gabbiadini, but Silvio Pagliari has now told Italian media that the marksman wants to stay at St Mary's.

"Gabbiadini is definitely staying at Southampton, and we have to overturn last year's performance in which we did not do very well," Pagliari is quoted by the Daily Echo as saying.

"The team suffered a lot - a few goals, a very strange championship despite being very strong.

"[We have had] a few requests from Italian clubs came but he feels at the top in the Premier League, also for how football is lived. It's another world."

Saints currently have four senior strikers on their books, with Gabbiadini playing alongside Charlie Austin, Shane Long and Sam Gallagher.