SAINTS will now reportedly step up their interest in Blackburn Rovers striker Adam Armstrong following Danny Ings’s departure to join Aston Villa.

The Midlands club confirmed they had signed Ings on a three-year contract on Wednesday, for a fee the Daily Echo understands to be £30million.

And the Athletic are now reporting Saints are ready to strike a deal with the Lancashire club for Armstrong - but are reluctant to meet Rovers’ current valuation.

The Lancashire Telegraph reported Saints previously had an £8m bid rejected for the former Newcastle man, while Rovers are said to be asking for at least £20m.

Watford and Norwich are also said to be interested in the 24-year-old, who scored 29 goals in 43 appearances for Rovers last season.

Armstrong's contract at Ewood Park is understood to expire next summer.

He joined Blackburn from Newcastle for £1.75million in 2018, with the Tyneside club said to retain a 40 per cent sell-on clause on any profit raised by the sale of Armstrong.

The St Mary's side have also been linked with a loan move for Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, while The Athletic claim RB Leipzig’s Alexander Sorlorth is also an option for Hasenhuttl's side.