According to the International Business Times, Southampton are interested in signing Villarreal winger Alfonso Pedraza, who is currently on loan at fellow La Liga side Alaves.

The IB Times says that the 21-year-old is considered to be one of the most promising young players to graduate from the Villarreal academy in recent years, and he would have made his loan move Championship side Leeds United last season permanent if they had have been promoted at the end of the campaign.

The report says that the south coast outfit's Premier League rivals Newcastle United have also scouted the attacker in action in Spain.

Of course, Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino may have already have seen a number of scout reports on the player himself considering he was the coach of Alaves last season, but it may not be a smart decision to bring him to St Mary's during the January transfer window or even next summer.

Here are three reasons Southampton should steer clear of signing Pedraza….

They need a proven attacker

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If Pellegrino is looking to bring in a new wide player during the January transfer window then Southampton really aren't in a position to buy a player who could potentially do well, as they need instant results.

Considering their goalscoring problems from last season have continued into the current campaign – the south coast outfit have scored eight goals in 10 matches in all competitions this term – they must aim higher than someone unproven like Pedraza and ideally need someone like former Saint Theo Walcott, who has shown he can make a difference at this level and is also out of favour at Arsenal.

Spell with Leeds United

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While the IB Times suggests that Pedraza is highly-regarded by Villarreal, the fact that he was sent on loan to Leeds in the second-half of last season with a view to a permanent £9m move if they won promotion hints otherwise.

Saints should certainly be concerned by his spell with the Championship outfit too, as he hardly set the world alight during his time at Elland Road.

The winger was named in the starting line-up in eight of his 14 league appearances came for the Whites – scoring one goal and providing no assists – and he certainly didn't look to have the ability or be good enough to make an impact in the Premier League with a club like Southampton.

Alaves form

If Pedraza wanted to prove that he is able to perform at the highest level during his loan spell with Alaves, it certainly hasn't gone to plan so far.

The 21-year-old has featured in all nine of the team's La Liga fixtures so far this season – with seven of those appearances coming from the start – but a disastrous start to the campaign has seen the side win just once, losing the other eight matches.

The wide man hasn’t really made an impact as of yet either, picking up just one assist in their only victory against Levante – with that goal being one of only three they have scored in the Spanish top flight this term.

That form certainly doesn't suggest that he will be a hit in the Premier League should he complete a move to Southampton.

Do you agree, Saints fans? Let us know below.