Saints are backed into a corner with Virgil Vand Dijk, they have played hard ball and have little other option but to refuse to sell him to Liverpool, but if there was another team in town that perhaps might give them a get out clause.
Saints are in a damned if they do, damned if they don't situation with Virgil Van Dijk, even the most casual of observers as been shocked and disgusted in equal measures by the way Liverpool have pursued Van Dijk, not by bidding but through underhand meetings and using the media to drive the deal forward.
Any possible transfer of the player to Liverpool is at what looks like an impassable deadlock, Liverpool cannot bid as they could be charged by the FA for their conduct, at the moment the only alibi they have is that they are not interested in the player publicly, but bid and that goes out the window and they will be exposed.
From a Saints perspective, they are hacked off by Van Dijk's attitude and they now have a won't sell at any price attitude, at least towards Liverpool.
So it looks like stretching out till the end of the transfer window then after that closes it will get messy.
But news that Chelsea are ready to bid could offer both Saints and Van Dijk a get out clause, although it would leave Liverpool it deep trouble which would please Saints supporters at least.
Saints would be very interested in dealing with Chelsea who have the clout to pay big, but could also offer a player in part exchange and Saints have a good recent history of dealing with the Stamford Bridge club both on loan deals and permanent transfers.
Saints would especially be interested in Andreas Christensen being part of the deal, they have been linked with him earlier in the summer and at 21 the Danish International has got a good mix of youth and experience in that he has played the last two seasons as a regular in the Bundesliga with Borrussia Monchengladbach.
From that perspective he would be ready to step straight into the Saints side.
Chelsea have always been keen to hang on to him and only loan him out, but of late that stance has softened with the player frustrated as to where he stands in the pecking order at the Bridge and the possible arrival of Van Dijk would see him go further back.
This would all look like a good deal for both clubs and the player, however recent rumours have suggested that Chelsea are trying to use him as bait to Inter Milan in their pursuit of Antonio Candreva and Milan might be more attractive than Southampton.
But certainly an offer of £50 million plus Christiansen would be attractive to Saints and they would perhaps be willing to back down in their hardline stance and do business.
It would suit on all fronts in that it would show Liverpool that we don't just roll over whatever the dirty tactics used, it would have show the player that you can't behave like a brat to get what you want and it would show the Saints fans that these days the club is in control of it's destiny.
Oh and there is the little matter that it will push up the price !