The Saints transfer gossip that is making the headlines today...

JOSE Fonte is trying persuade Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to return to Saints, according to the national press.

The Mirror reports that the Saints captain is keen to welcome back Oxlade-Chamberlain to St Mary's this summer.

The pair played together while the club were in League One in 2010/11, before the now 22-year-old moved to Arsenal at the end of that campaign in a £15m deal. 

Saints have, allegedly, already shown interest in the Gunners midfielder, who is currently on the path to recovery from a knee injury, and are among a number of Premier League clubs watching his progress. 

Fonte apparently tried to persuade the England international, who has two years left on his current contract in north London, to rejoin in January.

West Ham and Chelsea are also admirers of the Arsenal star, the Mirror adds, but is reportedly unwilling to move to another London club out of respect for the Emirates Stadium outfit.