According to reports on Wales Online, Swansea City are the favourites to sign Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke on loan during the January transfer window.

Wales Online says that Paul Clement's side have been made the 7/4 favourites by online bookmakers Ladbrokes to get the 20-year-old, who has found first team minutes hard to come by at Anfield this term.

The Reds signed the young attacker from Chelsea during the summer transfer window after he decided to leave the west London outfit at the end of his contract, but he has played just 194 minutes of football across 10 appearances in all competitions for the Merseyside club since.

Despite that fact, he picked up his first senior England cap in the goalless draw against Brazil earlier this month and Jurgen Klopp could decide to send him out temporarily to aid his development in the New Year.

Meanwhile, Southampton bounced back from successive defeats without scoring by beating a lowly Everton side 4-1 at St Mary's on Sunday, but it may not be a result that stops manager Mauricio Pellegrino dipping into the market to bring a new striker to his largely goal-shy team in the New Year.

While the south coast outfit may not have the best working relationship with Liverpool following the Virgil van Dijk saga earlier this year, if they are able to make up with them and do a deal for the forward it could be a shrewd move.

Here are three reasons Saints should hijack Swansea's bid to sign Solanke…

They need a striker

While Charlie Austin scored a brace on his first Premier League start of the season against Everton on Sunday, you still get the feeling that Southampton need another striker option in the second-half of the campaign.

Austin could look to leave St Mary's if he doesn’t get more regular chances until the New Year, while Shane Long is without a goal since February and Manolo Gabbiadini has struggled in the lone striker role.

Adding someone like Solanke to the squad would give them a different dimension up top from January onwards, and it could ensure they secure yet another top-half finish.

Solanke's qualities

While the 20-year-old hasn't really been given too much of an opportunity with Chelsea or Liverpool, the fact that he scored seven goals in 26 appearances during a loan spell with Eredivisie outfit Vitesse and has such an impressive record at youth level for England shows the potential and quality he has.

Not only is he quick and loves to dribble at opposition defenders, but the fact that he is 6ft 2in means that he can be a threat in the air too when he needs to be.

According to Squawka, he has won three of the five aerial duels he has contested in seven Premier League appearances this term, while he has successfully completed all three of the take-ons he has attempted.

Loan deal

While Southampton managed to snap up Manolo Gabbiadini in the previous January transfer window, it isn't always easy to get a player that you want for the right price – especially a striker halfway through a campaign.

It means that Saints may have to settle on a loan deal if they do desperately want a new attacker in the New Year, and bringing someone like Solanke to St Mary's until the end of the season could be beneficiary for all parties, and would give the south coast outfit time to identify a permanent addition for the summer.

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