Breaking news: Southampton finally signs Fulham midfield maestro on a free transfer, terms agreed.

Latest reports suggest that Saints are interested in signing a midfielder from Fulham,

sceptics will groan and say not another ex player returning to St Mary’s,

but it isn’t Harrison Reed that is the centre of attention, so they can rest easy.

According to southamptonfcnews the man in question is Bobby De Cordova-Reid who has not signed a

new contract at Fulham and is now a free agent.

Last season he played 33 times in the Premier League for the cottagers,

although only 17 of them were in the starting line up,

with the other 16 coming on as a substitute, primarily used out wide on either flank,

he scored 6 goals and added another 2 assists.

Overall in 5 seasons at Craven Cottage he played 159 League games,

with 101 of them coming in the Premier League,

he also had a season with Cardiff in the top flight adding another 27 games.

Add to that around 200 games in the Championship for not only Fulham & Cardiff but also Bristol City and he could be a

good addition as Saints build their squad for next season.

So, although turning 31 in February, he could still compete in the Premier League and fit the bill at St Mary’s,

providing a balance of experience with De Cordoba-REid and Ryan Fraser, as well as potential with Sam Edozie.

Some Saints fans have been unimpressed with the players linked with the club thus far,

but it should be remembered that building a squad is about balance; it is about bringing in low-cost but experienced players,

as well as young players and, finally, players at the top of their games.

All this has to be done without falling foul of financial fair play rules and also with one eye on the fact that if we are

relegated we do not want to repeat mistakes of the past and find ourselves lumbered with players who we have paid

large transfer fees for and are lumbered with their wages and can do nothing other than send them out on loan.