LUTON Town manager Rob Edwards has confirmed that Saints have made a bid for full-back James Bree and that the deal is ‘progressing’.

Bree is expected to become Saints’ third signing of the January transfer window after the club completed transfers for Mislav Orsic and Charly Alcaraz earlier this month.

With six months left on Bree's current contract, it doesn’t appear Edwards or Luton will stand in the way of a move to St Mary’s.

READ MORE: Saints confirm new contract for talented academy graduate

“We’ve obviously had an offer from Southampton for James Bree," Edwards said, according to the Lutonian.

"Things are progressing between the clubs at the moment. I’m not in a position at the moment to say anything else. There’s nothing more to give. We can update if it goes the way we expect it to.”

With Bree’s switch to Saints anticipated imminently, Luton are set to turn to Leeds United’s Cody Drameh to replace the 25-year-old.

“Cody [Drameh] is very, very similar,” Edwards continued. “We’ve been aware of him. We knew there would be a chance of us losing Breezy (Bree) in the window and Cody is someone we’ve been aware of and liked for quite a while. It’s a similar situation with him as well.”

While Jones has spoken on multiple occasions about his desire to add attacking potency to his Saints squad, Bree represents a low-cost opportunity to bolster a defence struggling with injuries.

Tino Livramento is still working his way back from the serious knee injury he suffered in April while summer recruit Juan Larios is also out of action with a hamstring problem.

The dearth of natural full-backs - and Romain Perraud’s bit-part role under the new boss  - has led Jones to frequently utilise Mohammed Salisu and Lyanco out wide and Bree’s addition will provide a welcome extra option.

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