NATHAN Jones admitted latest Saints target Kamaldeen Sulemana would “add potency to anyone” but stopped short of confirming the club’s interest.

Saints are known to be pursuing a deal for Stade Rennes winger Sulemana as first reported by L’Equipe this week, with the latest reports suggesting a £20million bid has been tabled.

The 20-year-old attacker, who can play anywhere across a frontline, is a full Ghana international with one goal and two assists across 17 games in Ligue 1 and Europa League this campaign.

Sulemana represented his country at the World Cup last year and is a direct, pacey forward who would look to continue terrorising defenders should a Premier League move materialise.

With Jones open about wanting to add potency to his attack in the final few days of the January transfer window, the Saints boss was asked if Sulemana fits that bill.

“He'll add potency to anyone in terms of the way he is,” he responded. “But whether he's on our list or if we are in for him or anything is another thing.

“We would like to add either real central potency in terms of a striker or something different that can play across the front line and supply different chances. That's what we are out to do.

“No names, no nothing, because a lot of people are looking for the same thing. We still have four or five days of the window left, usually the last day is bonkers anyway so there's plenty of time.”

Jones added: “It's not like we are running out of time. We know what we want to do and it's about making those decisions and the people that have players that we like also know there is four or five days left in the window.

“People try to hold on, try to get the best price, try to get this and it's always difficult but there's no panic. We know what we need and if we get it, brilliant. If we don't then we work with what we have.”

Asked if he wants to add pace to the wide areas of the pitch, as Sulemana would do, Jones continued: “You can never have too much pace. Never too much power. Never have too much aggression. Never have too much quality.

“We will constantly as long as I am at the club be striding to add more pace, power, aggression, quality, to the team. We will never rest and think 'we're okay now'. Window to window we work with what we have, but in every window, this squad will get better.

“That's all you can do. Recruitment at other clubs I've been at, I've made sure I've left the club in a better position than it was when I took over and that means squad, environment, culture, and pretty much usually results and places in the table.

“Sometimes that takes a little bit longer but we always look to add real quality to our squad. I know I am a custodian of this seat, not owner, and the next one will look and see 'I have a good squad'.

“They'll see 'I've got balance, pace, aggression, people that can defend, a structure I can work from whatever that is'. I don't think I have ever left a club in turmoil. We have always recruited well with real potency for whatever system or shape."

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