As the transfer window opening looms, it has been claimed in Scotland that Saints head of recruitment Darren Mowbray is desperate to sign a striker from his former employers Aberdeen in the January transfer window.
head of Recruitment Darren Mowbray arrived at St Mary's back in July from Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen where he had spent two years after 5 years at Burnley.
Immediately Saints were linked with Aberdeen's Bojan Miovski, but eventually they settled with the signature of Ross Stewart from Sunderland.
Now with Stewart said to be now out for the remainder of the season due to a hamstring injury, rather than the knee issue he had when he joined the club, Saints are prioritising a striker in January.
footballfancast.com are reporting that Bojan Miovski is their man and are citing The Daily Record in Scotland as claiming that Darren Mowbray is pleading with Southampton to make Miovski the number 1 striking target.
The 24 year old North Macedonian International has scored 8 goals in 16 appearances this season plus an assist and it is also claimed that both Rangers & Celtic are interested in the striker who in his first season in 2023/23 with the Dons notched 16 in 33 SPL games.
The reports claim that around £6 million will be enough to sign the player, Saints might feel that this is a stopgap signing, the SPL is nowhere near the standard of the Championship, the Old Firm aside, and it would be a gamble as they look to fill the gap for Ross Stewart, that may get bigger with Che Adams likely to move back to the Premier League next month.
Darren Mowbray however feels that Biovski is good enough and is "pleading" that Saints sign him, but there is a stumbling block.
The big rumour is that Southampton's number 1 target is Danny Ings on loan and that a proven striker is needed if the club is to challenge for automatic promotion, they cannot take the chance on signing another dud be it due to the level of skill or injury as was the case with Stewart.
However if Che Adams goes then there is a space for two strikers, so it could be that both Ings and Niovski arrive at St Mary's in the next few weeks.
But conversely the club may feel that if they get Ings then Sekou Mara is sufficient as back up, it could be said that France's Ligue 1 is a higher standard than the Scottish Premier League and Mara scored goals at that level, he has yet to ignite his career at St Mary's, but there is talent there that could blossom.