Saints remain in pole position in the chase for Toby Alderweireld despite the Belgian defender having been offered to Premier League champions Chelsea.

The Daily Echo understands that Atletico Madrid, from whom Alderweireld was on loan at St Mary’s last season, have tried to instigate a swap deal with Chelsea in order to sign Filipe Luis.

While Chelsea have not dismissed the idea out of hand, and the deal remains on the table, the Blues are believed to be chasing other targets and would prefer to sell Luis rather do a swap deal with Alderweireld if he were to go.

Certainly it is not a case of Chelsea approaching Atletico in an attempt to do a swap for Alderweireld as has been reported elsewhere.

Three serious options are in play for Alderweireld – moves to Saints or Tottenham or staying with Atletico.

The latter remains unlikely, even though the Spanish side this week sold a centre half, Miranda, to Inter Milan.

Atletico boss Diego Simeone still has Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, his first choice centre back pairing, and a very established duo as they both represent Uruguay as well, at his disposal.

Alderweireld is likely to be below both of those in the pecking order should he stay at Atletico, and the Belgian does not want to be anywhere he is likely to be used mainly as a sub.

Atletico’s decision to pay Saints €2m to buy out the €8m option that was agreed when Alderweireld joined St Mary’s on loan is likely to prove to be a move to try and get more money for the player.

The Spanish club realise that Alderweireld’s outstanding season at Saints has seen his value soar far beyond the combined €10m value of the original option and the buyout clause combined.

Saints will therefore have to certainly break that barrier to get him.

They do have a major advantage, and that is that Alderweireld is keen to join Saints permanently.

He has admitted publically and since told friends and family that he loved his time at Saints and would like to become a full time player.

His partnership with Jose Fonte was one of the chief reasons that Saints were so successful last season, and Alderweireld is understood to have enjoyed working under a legendary player in his position in Ronald Koeman.

The key to a Saints move for Alderweireld will be for the club to offer enough money to tempt Atletico to accept quickly, assuming Chelsea do declare themselves out of the deal.

If not then the Spanish side may allow the situation to drag on in a bid to try and generate further interest or push Saints towards paying more as the new season nears.

The worst case scenario for them will be keeping Alderweireld, with the option to have him as a squad player or loan him out again for a fee.