SAINTS are expected to tie up a deal to sign Aaron Martin from Eastleigh today.

The 20-year-old centre half, a former Itchen College pupil, will make his dream move to St Mary’s after impressing on trial at Saints.

Martin was recommended to Saints by Eastleigh and after training with the first team was handed a start in a reserve team fixture against Plymouth almost a fortnight ago.

Alan Pardew travelled to watch Martin in action at Home Park and has been impressed enough to hand him a deal to see how far he can go in professional football.

The transfer has been on the cards for a few weeks but has been held up due to logistical problems, but is expected to go through today.

The details are at this stage unknown but it is expected that Eastleigh will receive a five figure sum for Martin as well as a sell-on clause should Saints ever sell him.

Martin was again left out of the Spitfires line-up at the weekend due to his protracted move to St Mary’s.