QPR are hoping to tie up a deal for Saints winger Jason Puncheon this week.
The Premier League side remain in discussions over the 25-year-old winger, who has been totally frozen out of first-team plans at St Mary’s.
Following Malaysian tycoon Tony Fernandes’ takeover at Loftus Road last week, QPR now have money to spend.
And the Daily Echo understands they are beginning to edge close to a deal for Puncheon, although a transfer has not been finalised.
As previously reported, the clubs have also been discussing a possible move in the opposite direction for centre half Kaspars Gorkss.
The 29-year-old Latvian international has been Saints manager Nigel Adkins’ number one target ever since a deal for Tunisian defender Ammar Jemal fell through during pre-season.
Saints have received plenty of interest in Puncheon this summer, but have been holding out for a fee of about £1m.
If they get it, that could further increase any monies made available to Nigel Adkins prior to the close of the summer transfer window at the end of this month.
Puncheon’s value rose after an outstanding loan spell at Championship side Millwall last season, followed by an impressive series of performances in the second half of the Premier League campaign with Blackpool.
The Seasiders themselves remain keen on bringing back Puncheon on a more permanent basis, and still harbour hope of reaching a deal themselves.
But QPR is likely the player’s prime destination, given their status as a Premier League side and their proximity to his birthplace, Croydon.
Saints, meanwhile, have also been linked once again with a move for Leicester striker Martyn Waghorn.
Reports have suggested they are lining up a £1.5m bid for the 21-yearold.
Waghorn signed for the Foxes last summer in a £3m deal from Sunderland.
However, he has scored just four goals in 32 league appearances for the Championship side.
Waghorn was offered to Bristol City earlier this summer, as part of a Leicester move to sign Nicky Maynard.
But Waghorn has insisted he wants to stay put.
“I just want to play football,”
he said. “It’s a big squad and there is competition, but I want to play for this club.”
