Stoke City are getting the jitters as they close in on what would be their record signing, as they fear Saints are lurking.
A month or so ago Saints were linked with West Bromwich Albion's Saido Berahino, back then it was denied and the rumour went quiet, now though with Albion having just about secured West Ham's Diafra Sakho, it looks like Berahino will be joining Stoke City, or will he ?
Stoke seem to feel that they are just about there with a bid of £20 million topping that which other contender Crystal Palace are offering, however they feel that Saints are lurking and could not only outbid them but with Europa League football on offer, be a far more attractive package to the player.
Local media in the Potteries is running with the story and they seem to feel it has some substance.
But is this a case of Saints coming in on the rails or is it the players agent trying to stir up either a move to Saints for his client or a better deal for him whether it be Stoke or any other team.
Certainly Berahino would fit the type of player Saints will be interested in to replace Mane, but there are questions over the players attitude and he seems to have gone along the same path as Victor Wanyama did for saints last season, both of course were famously "unsettled" by Tottenham Hotspur last summer, Berahino on his day can be brilliant, but that day was few and far between for the Baggies last term, managing only 4 goals in 31 Premier League appearances compared to 14 the previous season.
It is certainly a transfer that would excite Saints supporters though !