Saints join Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Stoke, Aston Villa, Sunderland, West Brom after Laurent Depoitre of Gent.

Laurent Depoitre of Gent is the latest scoring sensation in Belgium and has come to the attention of a number of English clubs including Saints who are rumoured to be monitoring him ahead of a mad rush for his services in the summer transfer window.

Depoitre at 27 is a somewhat late starter to success, he had plied his trade in the Belgium lower leagues before he won promotion with former club Oostende in 2013.

2013/14 saw him not exactly set the division alight with only 7 goals in 31 games, however an issue with his contract saw him leave Oostende in the summer of 2014 and join Gent.

Suddenly his career took off with 13 goals in 35 games in the Belgian Pro League in 2014/15 and he has continued that form this season and that has earned him his first cap for Belgium and he hopes to force his way into their squad for the European Championships in the summer.

Meanwhile though he is hot property and there is every suggestion that Gent are keen to cash in whilst his value is high.

Whether Saints actually are interested or not is still open to speculation, as it stands they currently have five strikers, however there is a very good chance that this could decrease in the summer, the arrival of Charlie Austin has cast doubt on Graziano Pelle's future at the club after the arrival of Charlie Austin, his value will only decrease now with his age and the player himself would like to make his mark in his own Country before he retires.

Sadio Mane is linked every week of the season with one of the big clubs although when the transfer window opened last month there did not appear to be a single offer for his services and his recent form is possibly not exactly enhancing his reputation.

But this speculation on Saints own players is going to mean that they will be linked with every striker on the Continent in the next few months and Depoitre will only be one of several dozen.

Photo: Action Images

pap added 10:56 - Feb 21
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Bettwsresident added 18:39 - Feb 21 5 strikers?, more like 7. In addition to Pelle, Long, Austin, Jay Rod and Mane. I would also add Seagar who (if he recovers) is a natural goalscorer .....and I think it is too early to discount Juanmi, although I doubt either will ever get a chance given the 1st 5. .
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Big_T added 00:20 - Feb 22 I smell tabloid manure.
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SaintBrock added 10:28 - Feb 22 Me too! Agents are revving up their engines too no doubt. About a likely as Mane scoring again this season.
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