Saints are preparing for the potential departure of Nathaniel Clyne by closing in on a £3.5m deal for Cedric Soares.

The 23-year-old Portuguese international right back should complete a move to St Mary’s from Sporting Lisbon, with the Daily Echo understanding it could happen as soon as today.

The signing of Soares is a decisive move from Saints to ensure they are covered should Clyne leave the club in the coming weeks.

Saints have already rejected a £10m offer from Liverpool for the England international.

The Daily Echo understands that the Reds will come back in with another bid for Clyne.

If it gets to £15m and the player says he wants to move, then Saints are expected to sell.

Clyne has one year remaining on his contract, with negotiations over a new deal having dragged on for several months.

The club have gone as far as they feel is realistic, and it is now up to the player to decide upon his future.

The very fact that the contract remains unsigned at the moment is not a particularly good sign, even if Saints haven’t entirely given up hope.

They have made the wise move to ensure they are not left desperately searching for a replacement by focussing on a move for Soares.

If Clyne does sign then they have much needed cover at right back, meaning they won’t have to move players out of position should he be unavailable for any reason.

Soares, an international teammate of Saints captain Jose Fonte, is also in the final year of his contract, and has indicated he is unwilling to sign a new one, meaning Sporting Lisbon are prepared to sell for a knockdown £3.5m.

Stoke were close to agreeing a deal before Saints stepped up their interest.

The Daily Echo understands that Soares, who is German born but moved to Portugal aged two, should tie up a deal to move to St Mary’s imminently providing there are no unforeseen last minute hitches.

The Soares signing would mark a terrific week for Saints in the transfer market having already signed up another talented young player in the shape of Juanmi.

Soares came through the youth ranks at Sporting, and has twice won the Portuguese Cup – once with Sporting and once when on loan at Academica de Coimbra.

He has made 67 club appearances, scoring two goals, while representing his nation through youth levels right up to the senior side, for whom he has four caps.