Last Updated: Mon, 31 Dec 2012 10:36
Nigel Adkins is being linked with a swoop to take Cagliari centre-half Davide Astori and Birmingham keeper Jack Butland to Southampton.
The Saints chief was remaining cagey when quizzed about the possibility of bringing new faces into St Mary's last week, although it is clear that he will make additions if the right players become available.
And, it seems central defence is one area which Adkins would like to bolster given that he only has three currently at his disposal with Danny Seaborne and Aaron Martin still away on loan at Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace respectively.
Therefore it is no surprise to see 25-year-old Italy international Astori linked with a possible £8million switch to the south coast in January.
The main stumbling block to that deal is the player snubbed a move to Russian side Spartak Moscow in the summer because he wanted to stay put at Cagliari so it would no doubt be difficult for Adkins to persuade him to join a club facing a relegation scrap.
Meanwhile, despite praising his current crop of three keepers in Kelvin Davis, Paulo Gazzaniga and Artur Boruc, Adkins continues to be linked with a new custodian.
And, having failed to secure a £6million deal for England Under-21 international Butland in the summer, it is being suggested that Adkins will make a renewed effort to snap up the Birmingham starlet next month.
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