Saints are prepared to walk away from a deal for Che Adams if Birmingham try to press for an even greater premium for the striker.

The Daily Echo understands that Saints have offered a deal worth around £14m for the 22-year-old forward.

They made a lower bid in January which the Blues turned down and proved then that they would not be held top ransom as they opted to continue with the same squad for the remainder of the season.

Saints are following a similar approach this summer with other potential irons in the fire for the striking position which manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has targeted as a key area for strengthening.

Adams is the club’s top target having caught the eye last season by scoring 22 goals for the Championship side.

The move has been slightly complicated by the sacking of former Saints defender Garry Monk as Birmingham’s manager.

However, Saints still want a deal concluded sooner rather than later with Hasenhuttl keen to bring in more new faces before the start of pre-season as he seeks to get business completed early at St Mary’s.

The club are not trying to play hardball over moves this year in a bid to get them completed quickly, instead approaching clubs with what they see as a fair valuation before entering into negotiations to attempt to get deals over the line at speed.

With Hasenhuttl wanting signings through the door in good time wherever possible Saints wish to avoid protracted talks which could ultimately lead nowhere and have several other options for the striking role if the Adams deal doesn’t happen.

Hasenhuttl sees the physical attributes of Adams as a good fit to his new-look team for next season.

Adams is a powerhouse with a turn of pace that can lead the line for Saints, and given his age is a perfect fit for the kind of signing that Hasenhuttl wants to make Adams started his career in non-league with Oadby Town and Ilkeston after being released by Coventry aged 14.

His goalscoring exploits saw him signed by Sheffield United, where he scored 15 times in 55 games, before Birmingham paid £2m to take him to St Andrew’s.

In three seasons with the Blues he has netted 38 times in 123 appearances.

Saints have so far brought in one new face this summer in the shape of £14m winger Moussa Djenepo.