Saints have allegedly monitoring the situation at Sporting Lisbon alongside Everton, now it seems that the target has handed in a transfer request.

The player in question is Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani who has scored 57 goals in 107 appearances for the Portugese club and was of course a team mate of Cedric Soares.

For Algeria his strike rate is just as impressive with 23 goals in 43 appearances for his country.

The only thing against him is his age, he turned 28 in June, however Saints showed with the signing of Graziano Pelle two years ago that they are not afraid o sign older players when the price is right.

Everton are also reported to be interested which suggests that Slimani was a player that Saints had in their radar when Ronald Koeman was at the club and he would have been perhpas consulted about the player.

If Saints interest is real then perhaps the fact that Cedric Soares was a team mate may sway the Algerian towards the South Coast, although the problem may be that Everton have a wad of cash in their pocket that they can't seem to spend, that means they could be willing to pay through the nose.

Photo: Action Images

highfield49 added 21:35 - Aug 4 You had me worried Nick, I thought Matt wanted to go to Newcastle!
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truthfulsaint added 06:03 - Aug 5 No, thanks
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StRipper added 09:57 - Aug 5 Phew, about time someone showed up on the radar! Yes please, this guy is prolific and knows where the goal is. His age means he's less likely to agitate for a move to a big club after his first good season. To top it off, it looks like he scores all year round, unlike Pellè! Bring him on!!!
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StRipper added 09:59 - Aug 5 Phew, about time someone showed up on the radar! Yes please, this guy is prolific and knows where the goal is. His age means he's less likely to agitate for a move to a big club after his first good season. To top it off, it looks like he scores all year round, unlike Pellè! Bring him on!!!
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StRipper added 09:59 - Aug 5 Phew, about time someone showed up on the radar! Yes please, this guy is prolific and knows where the goal is. His age means he's less likely to agitate for a move to a big club after his first good season. To top it off, it looks like he scores all year round, unlike Pellè! Bring him on!!!
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StRipper added 09:59 - Aug 5 Phew, about time someone showed up on the radar! Yes please, this guy is prolific and knows where the goal is. His age means he's less likely to agitate for a move to a big club after his first good season. To top it off, it looks like he scores all year round, unlike Pellè! Bring him on!!!
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ChristchurchSaint added 11:08 - Aug 5 It does show how our situation has changed, a prolific striker who is either at his prime or maybe a little after it, but now we regard him as too old! According to one of the daily rags, an anonymous club has bid £16.75 mill for him, us or the northern blue mob?
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