Southampton appear to be heading for defeat in their bid to sign Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend.
Spurs wanted to offer Townsend as part of a deal for transfer target Morgan Schneiderlin but were knocked back by the South Coast club and the situation has now reached stalemate.
They now look set to sign Montpellier's Benjamin Stambouli for £6million.
Saints boss Ronald Koeman said of Townsend: "He is one of the players on our list, but it's very difficult."
