In a recent interview, former Southampton sporting director Les Reed has confirmed that Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy was once on the Saints' transfer radar.

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern in an exclusive interview, Reed confirmed that Vardy is one of a number of Leicester players who was admired by Southampton during his time at the club.

Since signing from Fleetwood Town in 201,2 the striker has well and truly established himself as a legend at the King Power Stadium, playing a key role in their shock title win in 2015/16.

In 352 appearances for the Foxes, he has contributed an impressive 147 goals and 61 assists, whilst he also earned 26 caps for England.

Whilst he is now 34-years-old, he shows little sign of slowing down, as he managed 15 goals and nine assists in 34 Premier League appearances last season, earning a superb 7.11 average rating from WhoScored for his performances.

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Although Southampton have a talismanic striker of their own in Danny Ings, the former Liverpool man has hit just 55 Premier League goals in his career, which is significantly fewer than the 118 scored by Vardy.

That Southampton were interested in the "unbelievable" Vardy during his time at Fleetwood, when he cost Leicester just £1m, then he surely would've proven to be a superb bargain signing at St Mary's had they made a move for him,

It is difficult to know whether he would've enjoyed the same almost inconceivable success he has managed with Leicester City with the Saints, but it's hard to think he wouldn't have justified that £1m, at worst, so looking back with hindsight, Reed not managing to bring him to St Mary's looks like a bit of a disaster.

And, in other news... Semmens signs Danjuma, no Djenepo: How Southampton could look under Hasenhuttl next season