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This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

According to French media outlet La Voix Du Nord, Southampton are interested in signing Lille midfielder Thiago Mendes, and are ready to go on the offensive to get him.

What's the word, then?

Well, the report by La Voix Du Nord says that the Brazilian is attracting interest from Lyon – who look set to lose Tanguy Ndombele to Tottenham Hotspur – with negotiations already said to be underway between two clubs who will compete in the Champions League next term.

However, La Voix Du Nord write that Saints are also keen on a move for €25m (£22.4m) rated player, as they look to return to the top half of the Premier League in 2019/20 following two successive relegation battles.

The 27-year-old would be a strange signing for the south coast outfit in some ways however, given manager Ralph Hasenhuttl recently said in an interview with SportBild that they would only be looking to bring in players aged 24 or under.

Worth bending the rules for

If Southampton have the chance to get Mendes, they shouldn't waste it.

The Brazilian was a key player for Lille as they finished second in Ligue 1 last season, playing in a defensive midfield role.

The 27-year-old isn't your archetypal individual in that position however, as he has an eye for a forward pass – shown with his five assists and 1.8 key passes per match in 35 top flight outings in 2018/19.

The main thing about the Sao Luis native is that he is mobile and has a trick up his sleeve – as shown by his YouTube highlights reel from last term – which are two things Saints' current out-and-out defensive midfielder Oriol Romeu lacks in his own game.

His ability to get around the pitch make him the ideal deep-lying playmaker if you were, while the fact he averaged 2.4 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game during the previous campaign proves he doesn't shirk his defensive responsibilities either.

Southampton's new man Moussa Djenepo divides opinion amongst fans in the video below...

All in all he would be a really positive signing even if he may not fit into Hasenhuttl's preferred philosophy when it comes to new additions.