According to sources in Portugal, Saints will be confirming the signing of a midfielder from Sporting CP of Lisbon on Tuesday with the player having arrived on the South Coast on Sunday for a medical.
sportwitness.co.uk are reporting that Portuguese media sources claim that midfielder Mateus Fernandes has already said his farewell’s to his team mates at Sporting CP and travelled to England on Sunday.
He will have a medical today and the club are hoping to unveil him on Tuesday.
Fernandes who only turned 20 last month, spent last season on loan Estoril where after an appearance as a sub for Sporting, he started 25 games plus another 3 as sub for near neighbours Estoril.
He scored 1 goal and notched two assists during his loan spell where his value soared to around the £10 million mark.
He came to the attention of Southampton and other clubs and Saints are said to have paid around £12.8 million plus £4 million in potential add ons, Sporting would also receive 10% of any profit should he leave Saints.
Before joining Estoril for the season, he had broken into the Sporting squad at 18 and played around 10 matches for the first team, not just in the Portuguese League but also in European competition.
He is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in either an attacking role or defensively.
Not a signing that will initially excite Southampton supporters, but he could well come good.
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