With Toby Alderweireld's future set to be decided in the next week, Saints will be considering other options if the Belgium International does not return to St Mary's.

Saints are preparing to square up with Everton by launching a £7 million pound bid for Juventus central defender Angelo Ogbanna.

As reported a week or so ago on this site, 27 year old Ogbanna is seemiingly on Saints radar although initially it was believed that the club was more interested in a loan deal than a permanent transfer.

However that seems set to change with Everton also vying for his signature and Saints launching a bid to sign him full time could suggest that they do not think they will land Toby Alderweireld.

Ogbonna is an experienced Serie A player from his time at Torino, but moving across Turin has not been a suceess and he has found it hard to establish himself as a started in Juventus's Serie A side.

This has not gone unoticed particularly at Goodison Park where Everton are short on central defenders after releasing Syvain Distin and Antolin Alcaraz.

Saints could hold the advantage though in Europa League qualification and they should find it easier to land class players than a year ago when they looked to be a club in crisis, a year on and Europa League qualification on top of two successive top 8 finishes will look an attractive proposition for potential transfer targets.

Photo: Action Images

Zambucco added 10:37 - Jun 29 Even the press are pretty quiet about our CB dilemna, and absolutely nothing from St. Mary's. My gut feeling, which currently is massive! Is that we feel we have a very good chance of keeping Toby, with Atletico stirring the hornet's nest to raise his price and who can blame them. There is also the case that we believe we have enough cover at this position. Florin Gardos was highly regarded, but hardly had chance to prove himself, Maya had his best season, but possibly never going to set the Prem alight. Plus we have had the return of Jack Stevens and Jordan Turnbull who had amazing seasons at Swindon, although not Prem ready, but surely worth giving them chances.

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SanMarco added 17:33 - Jun 29 I hope you are right on Toby, Zambucco, but if he does go we definitely do not have enough cover and in my view we need one direct replacement + a better next in line than either Yoshida or Gardos.
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