Saints tried to sign Tonny Vilhena from Feyenoord back in January but where put off by the asking price, however the situation is more complicated than just money now.
Tonny Vilhena was out in the cold for most of last season at Feyenoord, however with time running out in the January transfer window both clubs were unable to agree a fee and Vilhena was forced to stay put which made him even more unhappy with his situation at the Rotterdam club.
It was assumed that Ronald Koeman would come back calling once the summer window opened and that Feyenoord faced with a player going into the last year of his contract would be more reasonable in what they would accept.
Things changed on the managerial front at Feyenoord and Vilhena was offered a new deal by the club, however he has turned it down and is seemingly of the opinion that his days there are coming to an end.
But there is another complication in the matter, of course Feyenoord want to cash in now rather than see his value plunge in January with the prospect of him walking away for free next summer, but the player has personal circumstances that are affecting his short term future.
His Mother is seriously ill and he is loathe to move away from the area at present let alone go to another country and Feyenoord although sympathetic to his plight will still look to push him out this summer unless he signs the extended deal on the table.
So Vilhena has a dilemma, does he stay at Feyenoord for a season which could be uncomfortable for him career wise but will mean he could stay close to his Mother at a distressing time, does he hope that a club fairly near to Rotterdam comes in for him, which will mean he is close to home, but will mean he is locked in to a contract that long term isnt a good way forward, or does he move to say Saints, but that will see him unable to see his Mother on a daily basis.
It is all very complicated and of course distressing for Vilhena himself given his Mother's illness, however it does say a lot about the integrity of him as a man in that he is putting family illness before his career.
As it is unclear what the illness to his Mother is it is not possible to predict whether a move to Saints could happen this summer or even in January, but Ronald Koeman rates Vilhena highly and will monitor the situation carefully.