Media reports from Spain are suggesting that Saints are now the favourites to sign Mohammed Salisu from Real Valladolid after looking like they were going to lose out to Rennes.
Mohammed Salisu should not be a new name for Saints fans, the club have been linked throughout the first six months of 2020, but it looked like he was going to sign for Rennes.
However that deal appears to be going nowhere after his agent suspended talks with the Ligue 1 side and the Spanish media are now reporting that his future "remains unclear" but that his focus is now playing in the Premier League.
Saints are reported to be one of a trio of clubs who are interested with Wolves and Newcastle also said to be in the frame for the 21 year old central defender whose current market value is around the £11 million mark.
The reports also state that Saints are the clear favourite and although there is no confirmation of any bid being made for the player, it is also stated that to be the front runners it is probable that talks or an offer of some sort to open negotiations has been made.
Real Valladolid will not object to Salisu choosing where he goes next, so long as the bid matches Rennes, they have indicated they are expecting Salisu to leave and have already completed the signing of Javi Sánchez to ‘alleviate’ his departure from the club, so they will be keen to do a deal as quickly as possible.
Salisu although primarily a central defender can also play as a defensive midfielder, he has come up through the ranks at Valladolid only breaking into the first team this season, but he has started 27 of the team's 28 games in La Liga coming on as sub in the other one.
The only thing against him is his lack of experience, this has been his only season in the First team, however he made that jump having only just turned 20 and has been a success so he must have something about him.