[ad_pod ]According to Calciomercato, Southampton have made a bid for AC Milan striker Andre Silva, although chances of a deal being made have since been dismissed by a journalist close to the club.

What's the deal, then?

It was reported that a loan offer with an option to buy for €18m (£16.1m) was submitted by Saints but that the Serie A side deemed it too low.

Calcio Mercato have said that the seven-time European champions were not willing to entertain a fee any lower than €25m (£22.4m).

However, journalist Adam Blackmore, who is close to all the goings on at St Mary's, took to Twitter to categorically deny any bid had been made and rule out the possibility of the south coast club even trying:

Silva is a completely unnecessary addition

Southampton are right not to be interested in the 23-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Sevilla, as he is not needed at St Mary's as things stand.

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The Portuguese international made the most of that time in Spain by scoring 11 goals in 42 appearances in what was the joint-second best return of his career to date.

However, the south coast side have already been extremely active in the summer window, signing Danny Ings permanently for £20m as well as two more forwards in Moussa Djenepo and Che Adams.

With the money they've spent, the sensible move now by boss Ralph Hasenhuttl would be to try and claw back some of the money they have invested.

When it comes to whether or not to try and push the boat out for Silva, the Austrian needs to take into account just how many attacking options he already has.

Sofiane Boufal, Charlie Austin, Shane Long, Nathan Redmond, Guido Carillo and Mohamed Elyounoussi are all at his disposal before you even consider their summer arrivals.

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It is reported that Crystal Palace are interested in Austin and that Marseille are in for Boufal, which could potentially free up room for Silva.

But realistically Hasenhuttl has already recruited two new forwards - three if you count Ings - and any more wholesale changes could leave one of Adams, Ings or Silva out of the starting XI.

Clearly the chance to pinch one of Milan's promising talents would be a statement buy from Southampton.

But they have done their business, and now is the time to count their chickens and prepare for what is to come.