SAINTS are being linked with a £12m January transfer window move for Scottish international striker Jordan Rhodes.

The 24-year-old has been a prolific scorer for both Huddersfield Town and Blackburn Rovers in the past few seasons.

He made his name at Huddersfield, belting 40 goals in 45 league and cup appearances in 2011/12 during the Terriers’ League 1 promotion winning season.

During one purple patch, he blasted 12 goals in just five games including four in a 4-4 draw at Sheffield Wednesday and five in a 6-0 romp at Wycombe.

Rhodes signed for Blackburn towards the end of the 2012 transfer window for £8m, and went on to hit 31 league and cup goals for Rovers.

He netted 25 Championship goals in 2013/14 and has netted nine in 26 appearances this term.

Saints boss Ronald Koeman has said he is preparing for a quiet transfer window.

Speaking before Christmas, he was not planning on making any permanent additions to his squad.

Koeman reflected: “I don’t think that we need a defender, I don’t think that we need a midfielder.

“Only in front we have not a lot of options.

“When we start the season I was waiting for Jay Rodriguez to have him back in January and he isn’t back now and that means we need another one.

“Sam Gallagher has an injury and we have to wait how he comes back after his injury and that makes it a little more difficult.

“That’s the reason we look outside to bring in a new attacker.”

The attacker Koeman mentioned could well be Dutch international winger Eljaro Elia, who is expected to join Saints on loan as soon as the transfer window opens later this week.