SAINTS are being linked with a move for Inter Milan midfielder Saphir Taider as part of a deal for striker Dani Osvaldo.

The Serie A club are keen to take the 28-year-old Italian international on loan and are said to be willing to send a player in the opposite direction to help ease the negotiations.

Algerian international Taider is thought to be that man, with reports in Italy suggesting he is set to make a decision imminently on whether he wants to make the move.

The 22-year-old central midfielder has previously played for Bologna and Grenoble, and was part of the Algeria squad that competed in this summer’s World Cup.

In total, he has been capped 13 times by his country.

Taider made 25 league appearances for Inter last season, with 13 coming as a starter.

Saints would ideally like to sell Osvaldo, who has endured a disastrous year at the club since becoming their record signing, in order to recoup a significant proportion of the £12.9m they paid to Roma for him.

However, with interested parties seemingly keen only on a temporary move initially, they may be forced to accept that.

Saints are also said to be keen on another player who competed in Brazil this summer – Sporting Lisbon’s Argentine defender Marcos Rojo – while a deal for Celtic keeper Fraser Forster looks increasingly likely, with the club understood to be confident of securing his services.

An initial bid was rejected for the England international earlier this month, but Saints have continued in their attempts to reach an agreement with the Scottish champions.