Saints are said to be the front runner for a left back also wanted by Nottingham Forest & Benfica, but could this mean they will cash in with Kyle Walker-Peters with his contract due up in the summer of 2025.
sportwitness.co.uk are reporting that "Southampton want to sign Palmeiras defender Vanderlan in the winter market to improve their defence."
They quote media reposts in Brazil claiming that the Palmeiras are well served in the left back position and are looking to offload one of the 3 they have.
The report continues to claim, that after initial talks, Saints are about to make a formal offer within days.
There is no indication about how much that offer may be, although it is said that Palmeiras are seeking about £7 million, although the eventual fee may be lower that that.
This could signify that Kyle Walker-Peters time at St Mary's might be about to end, the defender who joined initially on loan from Spurs in January 2020, is out of contract in July 2025 and would leave for free then, so with the chances of escaping relegation getting more difficult with every game that is not won, defeat at Palace and at home to Brentford next weekend, could leave Saints deciding to cut their losses and get some money for KWP whilst they can.
His current value according to transfermarkt.co.uk is around the £18 million mark and although with only 6 months left on the contract, Saints are unlikely to get that, they might well decide that getting £12-15 million now is better than nothing in the summer.
But even without bringing in another left back, Saints could cover the loss of KWP from the squad, Charlie Taylor ignored by Russell Martin could fill in and of course there is also Jack Stephens, if the 3 central defenders and 2 wing backs formation if the preferred line up then Ryan Fraser could also be employed as a wingback.
Obviously our chances of survival are higher with KWP than without him, but it could well be that at some point in January our chances of doing so will be so low, that the club have to look to next season and getting money in the bank for a rebuild.