LYON forward Karl Toko Ekambi has reportedly turned down the chance to join Saints due to his apprehension at being in a relegation battle, according to French outlet RMC Sport.

Much has been made of Saints’ pursuit for more firepower up front but with under ten days left in the transfer window only winger Mislav Orsic and midfielder Charly Alcaraz have arrived to bolster Nathan Jones’s squad.

Linked with a flurry of possible forward targets, the latest name on the list is Toko Ekambi who is out of favour at Lyon and set to depart this winter. But according to RMC Sport, his destination won’t be St Mary’s.

The report states that both Saints and Everton held an interest in the Cameroon international but the 30-year-old rejected the two proposals due to his desire to avoid a potential relegation battle.

Toko Ekambi has played 19 times for Lyon this season, scoring four times as the French side toil in 9th in the Ligue One table.

The former Villarreal attacker has largely been used on the left wing this season but can also play up front, scoring 32 times in 92 league matches for Lyon since arriving in January 2020.

RMC’s report continues by saying that despite turning down Premier League options, Toko Ekambi is still set to depart Lyon after agreeing personal terms with French club Stade Rennais and Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Shabab.

Speaking to the Daily Echo ahead of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, Jones confirmed that the club is still searching for more attacking threat in the transfer market but won’t make a ‘knee-jerk’ signing.

“If nothing comes available that we can add that improves us, I never add just numbers for the sake of it,” he said.

“I’d rather just work with what we have and someone I really know than something that’s too much of a gamble, especially at this level.”

Jones added: “We’re working really hard to improve certain areas but if nothing comes available we won’t knee-jerk, we are scoring goals so it’s not like we’ve gone two or three games without scoring.

“We want to demand more and would like a little bit more potency all round, and we’re not going to get 10 players like that. If we can get one or two that add to us then that’s what we’re going to do.”

Asked exactly what he is looking for as a forward reinforcement, Jones explained: “We've got two good number nines who we believe in terms of Che and Sekou.

“We would like more potency is what we want. So whether that is if that's an out and out number nine then fine. If that's someone that can play across the line, then fine.

“We've been quite diverse, but getting the key characteristics that are essential for a Southampton team that wants to be aggressive and score goals.”

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