SAINTS are reportedly among a number of clubs interested in signing on-loan Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.

The 24-year-old USA international has spent the season with the Scottish giants on a loan deal from parent club Tottenham Hotspur, and could secure a league and cup double.

Centre-back Carter-Vickers is set to return to London at the end of the campaign but has only one year remaining on his contract.

According to the report by 90min, Tottenham are not interested in integrating him into their first-team squad, leaving Saints and Fulham among clubs circling for a move.

Celtic are also reportedly keen to make the current deal a permanent one after enjoying success north of the border, but a Premier League move would likely be too alluring.

Carter-Vickers is a graduate of the Tottenham academy and has made his way up through the youth teams all the way to senior football.

He has featured for the first-team as a youngster in EFL Cup and FA Cup competitions, before playing in a Europa Conference League qualifier earlier this season.

Carter-Vickers has enjoyed loan spells with Sheffield United, Luton Town, Swansea City, Stoke City and Bournemouth in the Championship – but never made a Premier League debut.

With eight international appearances for USA in the bank, Carter-Vickers would represent good experience for somebody who has never played a game in the English top-flight.

Saints are likely to target products of top Premier League academies who have not been given a chance at the highest level again this summer, as indicated by manager Ralph Hasenhuttl and CEO Martin Semmens.

Carter-Vickers fits the profile desired, while Sport Republic will allow Saints to move earlier on targets when they become available without the need for player sales.