Saints could be going back to Chelsea to bring in another rising star on loan for the coming season although they do face competition.
Saints are being touted as being favourites to land Chelsea's Ruben Loftus Cheek on a season long loan beating off competition from Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Brighton.
Saints seem to have a close relationship with Chelsea and in recent years have taken Ryan Bertrand initially on loan and then on a permanent deal and of course Oriol Romeu, this makes us very attractive to Chelsea's legion of rising stars who cannot get near the first team at Stamford Bridge despite being Premier League quality.
Turning 22 next January Loftus Cheek is at a crossroads in his career, he has started only 6 Premier League games for the Blues plus another 16 as sub and has not that many more apppearances in the other competitions, he has never been out on loan and now needs to get regular first team football.
Loftus Cheek plays primarily as a central midfielder and can also play in a more advanced role behind the strikers and it could be in this position Saints are looking at signing him.
Although Saints have a strong central midfield it is a very defensive roster and even the most attacking player James Ward Prowse doesn't score many goals, there is a need for more firepower in the centre.
The media has Saints as favourites but that has little more substance than Saints reputation for developing young players and the track record of igniting the careers of Bertrand and Romeu.