Saints are hoping that they my be able to snaffle one of Manchester United's top transfer window targets in January from under their noses.
Saints were linked with Memphis Depay back in the summer and the Dutch press is confirming that Ronald Koeman made a firm bid for the Eindhoven player.
Back then Saints were thwarted and Depay was persuaded to stay at PSV Eindhoven with a big fat new contract.
Now though the rumours are resurfacing that Depay might well be heading for the Premier in the summer with Manchester United leading the way.
They will have the edge in that Depay played for Van Gaal for the Dutch international side in the recent World Cup, but don't discount the Koeman factor, Ronald was manager at PSV during Depay's first year at the club as a youth team player and may be able to persuade the player that his chances at Saints will be far more frequent than those at Manchester United and that as he is only turning 21 in January his career may be better served taking the next step up to a team like Saints, rather than jump up several to a Manchester United side where it is still a work in progress but expectations are still very high.