Southampton manager Nathan Jones refused to be drawn on how close his side are to signing Kamaldeen Sulemana from Stade Rennais.
The ECHO reported earlier this month that Sulemana is one of a number of players Everton like and that the Blues were interested in taking the Ghanaian international on loan for the rest of the season. The Goodison Park club have long been hoping to bring in two attacking players this month.
However, news broke on Friday that Southampton had failed with a second bid of €20m for the winger, who has played 19 times for the Ligue 1 side this season, including four Europa league matches, scoring one goal and providing two assists while operating across the front line. The first bid from the Saints was believed to be €17m.
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Speaking about the possibility of signing Sulemana during Southampton's pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, Jones said: "He'll add potency to anyone in terms of the way he is. 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. 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."
And when asked for an update on Sulemana following his side’s 2-1 FA Cup victory over Blackpool on Saturday afternoon, Jones revealed: “Well we don't know yet.
“I mean that's something the hierarchy deals with. Obviously I have my part to play in the transfers of identification and meeting and presentation and then it's up to others to go on and get those deals over the line.
“So look, we're working tirelessly in terms of improving the squad, improving the potency and I'm sure we’ll have more to report over the coming days. All I've concentrated on since yesterday has been beating Blackpool.”
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