According to reports by Russia media outlet soccernews.ru, Southampton have been dealt a huge blow in their pursuit of Spartak Moscow forward Quincy Promes with the player not wanting to join 'one of the worst clubs in the Premier League'.

What's the word, then?

Well, Saints completed the club-record £19m signing of Monaco striker Guido Carrillo on Thursday night, and Sky Sports reported on the same day that they are keen to bring Quincy Promes to St Mary's before the January transfer window slams shut as well.

However, soccernews.ru says that while the south coast outfit appear unwilling to pay the Dutchman's €35 (£30.6m) price tag, the 26-year-old also isn't keen on joining a team that currently lies in the relegation zone in the English top flight.

How has Promes done this season?

He has been in fine form, as he has been ever since he joined Spartak from FC Twente in 2015.

The Netherlands international has scored 15 goals – including two in the group stages of the Champions League – and provided a further eight assists in 25 appearances in all competitions this term, while he has 58 goals in 115 outings in total for the Russian Premier League side.

The 26-year-old is also direct and loves to run at opposition defenders, while the fact that he has played on both wings and as a centre-forward this season shows his versatility.

Could Saints still sign him?

Given the south coast outfit have never spent more than £20m on a player it was always difficult to see them spending more than £30m on one, but in the predicament they currently find themselves in they need as much attacking quality as possible in their team.

If that means smashing their transfer record for Promes then so be it, but it looks to be a difficult task to persuade the player that it would be a good move for him even if they are willing to do that.

Who could they target instead?

Links with Atletico Madrid's Nicolas Gaitan have continued throughout the month, and it seems as though the Argentine winger is Southampton's back-up if a deal for Promes doesn't work out – as looks to be the case as things stand.

https://video.footballfancast.com/video-2015/january-window.mp4