Southampton and West Ham United are reportedly locked in a battle to sign Barcelona defender Marlon Santos.
The 22-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Nice, made 27 appearances for the Ligue 1 side in all competitions.
According to the Daily Mail, the Hammers have been knocked back with a £13m bid for the Brazilian, which has allowed Southampton to swoop in with a counter-offer of £11m.
The newspaper adds that the Saints, who are leading the chase for the player, hope to conclude a deal this weekend after holding talks in Barcelona on Thursday.
Santos, who joined the Spanish giants from Fluminense last summer, has two years left on his current deal.
Written by
Jonny Whitfield
Jonny Whitfield
