SAINTS have been linked with England U21 striker Connor Wickham.

The 21-year-old Sunderland forward signed for the Black Cats for £8.1m from Ipswich three years ago.

He has only ever scored six top flight goals in three seasons for the Wearsiders - five of which came in a three-game spell towards the end of last season.

Wickham, who is out of contract next summer, netted twice in a 2-2 draw at Manchester City and in a 4-0 win over Cardiff, and was also on target in a shock 2-1 win at Chelsea in between that helped Gus Poyet's side avoid the drop.

A national newspaper report states Saints' bid to sign Ronald Koeman's former Feyenoord striker Graziano Pelle have stalled.

Saints have been chasing the Italian striker, second top scorer in the Dutch League last season, for several weeks now.