SAINTS were today hoping to rush through a transfer window deadline day swoop for Swedish international defender Andreas Jakobsson.

The summer window closes today and Jakobsson, who has won 30 Swedish caps, is targeted as the man to step into injured centre half Michael Svensson's position.

Saints have been keen on signing the man who plays for Brondby and who was voted the best player in the Danish League last season for a while.

But the two clubs have yet to agree a fee with Brondby, who were knocked out of the UEFA Cup last week, keen to receive at least £1m for a player whose contract runs out at the end of this season.

Saints European scout Terry Cooper first recommended Jakobsson, pictured below, during Dave Jones' stint as manager when the player, who is also comfortable playing in the centre of midfield, was turning out for Swedish side Helsingborgs.

Cooper said: "Nobody seems to know how long Michael Svensson will be out for and I told Rupert Lowe we need to sign someone with experience.

"This guy is a real steady eddie, he's 32 next month but he doesn't rely on his pace, he can read a game so well.

"He can certainly play all this season and the next two as well.

"I'm told he wasn't at training yesterday and that could be a really good sign for us - he would be exactly what we need at the moment.

"We've really missed Michael since he's been out. Michael is a more aggressive defender than Andreas but Andreas is a real good footballer.

"But at this minute in time we don't need him to play good football - we just need him to defend.

"He played all of Sweden's Euro 2004 finals matches and he was superb."

Jakobsson, who only signed for Brondby 12 months ago from German outfit Hansa Rostock, would be head coach Steve Wigley's second central defensive signing since he replaced Paul Sturrock.

Last Tuesday Saints completed the £350,000 signing of Tunisian defender Alleddine Yahia from French club Guincamp. Cooper first saw the 22-year-old play in the same side as Chelsea's record signing Didier Drogba in 2002/03.

"He needs a lot of work on but for just a few hundred thousand pounds is a good investment," reported the former England full-back.

"I know the chairman likes to sign players who are 21 and 22 and hope we can then turn them into very good players.

"Hopefully they can do that with Yahia, but I told him in my opinion we need to sign an experienced centre half as well and hopefully they can sign Jakobsson.

"If they can that would give us three good centre halves when Michael is fit again, plus we'll have the Tunisian and Danny Higginbotham. Then there's Matthew Mills who I know they rate highly."

Saints aren't the only English club to have shown interest in Jakobsson recently. Nottingham Forest were keen on signing the man who partnered Aston Villa's Olof Mellberg during Euro 2004, but were scared off by the seven-figure price tag.