AFC BOURNEMOUTH’S swoop for Saints transfer target Nicolas Jackson appears to be over after a reported failed medical due to injury concerns.

A deal for the 21-year-old Villarreal forward was worked on by Saints throughout the January window before south-coast rivals Cherries looked to hijack the transfer.

Jackson, who is a Senegalese international with three goals in all competitions to his name this season, looked set to link up with Gary O’Neil’s Cherries at Vitality Stadium.

A £20million deal was agreed and Jackson flew in from Spain to finish his medical assessments and sign his papers making him a Bournemouth player.

However, as now reported by Sky Sports and Fabrizio Romano, Jackson’s current hamstring injury concerns are said to be to great of an issue after a thorough two-day assessment.

It was determined Jackson would not be available to play and the deal for the winger is off and the player is set to return to Spain with both camps said to be unhappy.

Bournemouth, under new ownership of American billionaire Bill Foley, could turn their hand back to the same market Saints are shopping in as they both look to bolster their frontlines.

Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article on the Daily Echo. Your support means we can bring you the latest breaking news, exclusive Saints features and coverage - and much more.

Digital subscribers get unrestricted access to all of our stories, our dedicated app including e-version of the newspaper, and an advertising-light website.

If you want all the latest articles delivered straight to your inbox you can join the thousands of subscribers who are signed up to our newsletters.

They include our popular daily morning news briefing, breaking news, crime and court, and Southampton FC bulletins - plus business, heritage and our what's on newsletters.