FABRICE FERNANDES trained with the team at Staplewood yesterday in the hope that he will become a Southampton player later today.

Chairman Rupert Lowe was keen to close the £1.2m deal with Fernandes' club Rennes by lunchtime so that he will be available for tomorrow's Premiership clash with Leeds United at the Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium.

Manager Gordon Strachan said that if the signing does go through, the French Under-21 midfielder, pictured below, will go straight into the squad.

Strachan said: "If we can get the deal tied up today he will be in the squad for Leeds.

"Fabrice trained with us yesterday, and he was on my side too in the practice match - the winning side!

"He has got imagination and flair, and what he has got is a change of pace which is all important in today's game to beat people.

"He is not a flying machine, but he has a change of pace, which is excellent."

Asked if the 22-year-old is match fit, Strachan replied: "We'll soon find out".

Fernandes passed a medical and agreed personal terms shortly before Christmas.

This season, he has been loaned out by the French First Division Club to rivals Olympique Marseilles, but first team opportunities have been limited. Last year, he had a loan spell with Fulham during their promotion season from the Nationwide League Division 1.

Chairman Rupert Lowe revealed there was just one sticking point holding up the entire deal which centred around Rennes' request for Southampton to give them a bank guarantee.

Saints intend to pay £400,000 straight down, and pay the remaining £800,000 over the next 12 months. Rennes want the bank guarantee on top.

Lowe countered: "We never give bank guarantees, we don't do that here. It is like writing a cheque on the first day, and that affects your banking lines."

He pointed out that all of Saints' transfer dealings were cleared through the Football Association, and what Rennes were expecting was not common practice.

They had hoped to clear the matter yesterday, but the French Football Federation's offices were closed. Southampton were trying again today.

Lowe added: "I have been told that Rennes have accepted our position, so that when the French Football Federation return from their Christmas break, Brian Truscott, our secretary, will be in touch to finalise the deal. We hope that will be before the midday deadline."