Japanese right-back Yukinari Sugawara, who was born in 2000, is close to joining Cagliari from Southampton on a loan deal that includes an option to buy. Sassuolo had also recently made an inquiry for the player, but Cagliari is now the club most likely to sign him. A full international for Japan with 25 caps and 2 goals, Sugawara joined Southampton in July 2024 and has a contract with the club until 2028. Transfermarkt estimates his current market value to be €5.50m. Other clubs that had been linked with the player include Celtic and SV Werder Bremen.