Southampton preparing £16m raid for Stoke City and Watford target

Southampton are reportedly ready to fight Stoke City for the signature of striker Saido Berahino this summer, according to The Sun.

The Premier League side, who finished sixth in the English top-flight standings last term before manager Ronald Koeman left for rivals Everton earlier this month, are understood to have joined the race to land the highly-rated West Brom forward ahead of the forthcoming 2016/17 campaign.

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

The 22-year-old, who is a former England Under-21 international, scored seven goals in 35 appearances in all competitions for the Baggies last season.

Berahino, who is determined to leave the Hawthorns this summer, is deemed as a suitable replacement for Sadio Mane – who completed his £34m switch to Liverpool on Tuesday.

The report suggests that the Saints are ready to launch a bid of £16m for Berahino’s services, who has also been linked with Watford during this transfer window.

Forward Berahino has netted 36 times in 116 games for West Brom since making his first-team debut back in August 2012.