Southampton are one of three Premier League clubs who have been repeatedly linked with a move for Shoya Nakajima in recent months.
The Portimonense player has been impressing, and with the Saints sending scouts to watch the club, the assumption grew that he must be the target.
That makes some sense, and Southampton sent an official to Portugal on Wednesday to watch Nakajima in a big test against Benfica, report O Jogo.
Portimonense won, thanks to two own goals from Benfica defenders, and Nakajima was one of the stars of the show.
O Jogo say the Japan international has been ‘coveted by the Saints’ recently, and they believe Manchester United, Southampton, Alavés, Mallorca, Freiburg and Feyenoord have also been potentially keeping an eye on the player.
The Red Devils scout near enough every Benfica match, so there’s probably not much to read into that.
Wednesday’s match should have been Nakajima’s last for his club before joining up with Japan ahead of the Asian Cup, but Portimonense are trying to keep him to play in their weekend game against Maritimo.
