Saints are hopeful of completing a deal for Graziano Pelle over the weekend.

The 6ft 4in striker is one of Ronald Koeman’s top targets this summer and the new Saints boss has revealed that a transfer is nearly finalised.

He said: “It’s close but still not signed.

“We hope maybe this weekend to have him as the second new player of Southampton.”

Saints have already brought in Dusan Tadic and should have plenty more captures this summer.

Daily Echo:

“I don’t talk about money,” said Koeman when asked about his transfer budget and plans.

“We are looking to all the positions in the squad and we are happy we have Tadic as a new player and the situation about Pelle is we are near to having another one in the team.”

On Tadic he added: “Lallana is a great player in his position with some other possibilities.

“Tadic is a great player, who scores, who makes assists, I know him very well from the competition in Holland and he’s very similar in the qualities of Lallana and he’s a great player for us.”