According to Corriere dello Sport an Italian media outlet, Saints have agreed personal terms with the player that they want to be the next summer signing, all that now needs to be tied up is the transfer fee.
The name of Saints next new signing if the press in Italy are correct won't be a surprise to anyone following this site, it is Bologna's Mattias Svanberg.
Svanberg is said to have agreed and shaken hands on a contract with Saints and now all that needs to be tied up is the transfer fee with Bologna.
The Danish midfielder is described by some in Italy as one of the top number 8’s in Europe, he was a mainstay for Bologna in 2021/22 — playing the sixth-most Serie A minutes out of anyone in their squad.
A central midfielder his arrival could herald a new formation for Ralph Hasenhuttl, the Austrian has usually played with only two central midfielders, but Svanberg's arrival could prompt a revamp and a return to playing with 3.
The Swede could sit in front of both James Ward Prowse and Oriol Romeu and provide options both going forward and defensively, a third man in the centre would free up time for JWP to be more active in the creative department, at times this season he has been pinned back and had to roll up his sleeves and work, that has meant less time on the ball for him and we haven't been able to utilise his ability to pass the ball as much as we should.
That could all change is Svanberg arrives at St Mary's
With only a year left on his contract Bologna are resigned to losing him this summer with a transfer fee likely to be between £10-12 million.