Southampton have supposedly sealed an interesting transfer deal ahead of the summer window as they pursue a Championship play-off spot.

The Saints have cemented their place in the top six with an impressive eight-game unbeaten run in the second division, which includes victories over Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday.

Tonda Eckert’s side will have a game in hand on the majority of their play-off opponents by the end of the weekend, as they face Fulham in the FA Cup on Sunday.

If Southampton defeat Marco Silva’s side at Craven Cottage, they will advance to the quarter-finals, but their main goal is to secure a top-six berth and compete for a quick return to the Premier League.

Southampton set to confirm Issa Tounkara’s contract.

Eckert presently has the services of promising Championship midfielders Shea Charles and Leo Scienza, who have both played important roles this season.

Southampton, on the other hand, intends to strengthen their position in that part of the field.

According to Africa Foot, Mali Under-17 star midfielder Issa Tounkara is in England, having undergone a physical ahead of a move to St Mary’s, which is expected to be revealed next week.

According to the rumor, the transfer is worth €1.2 million, and the player poised to join the Saints is dubbed Idrissa Gana Gueye after Everton’s Senegalese midfielder.

Tounkara is anticipated to play for Southampton’s reserve team before joining the first team, and training sessions with the senior squad will help him adjust to his new surroundings.

The 17-year-old played an important role in Mali reaching the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations final for the fourth time in history in 2025.

Issa Tounkara may be best served if Southampton remain in the Championship.

Tounkara presently plays for Malian club Academie des Etoiles du Mande, thus transferring to the Championship will need him to bridge a significant gap in class.

Meanwhile, the Saints are aiming for an immediate return to the Premier League and will look to win their third consecutive second-tier game against relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday, March 11.

Aside from their match against West Brom, Southampton’s remaining March matchups include league leaders Coventry City, in-form Norwich City, and relegation rivals Oxford United.

Eckert’s team will then play promotion rivals Ipswich Town and Wrexham on Good Friday and Easter Monday, respectively.

Victories over the Tractor Boys and the Red Dragons could provide the Saints with the confidence they need to return to the top division through the play-offs.

Meanwhile, Tounkara is still in the early phases of his career, and as many senior minutes as possible will help him grow.

As a result, the Mali youngster would benefit most from Southampton remaining in the Championship rather than winning the play-offs.

Tounkara, who plays in a deep-lying midfield role, may struggle to replace Charles in Eckert’s starting lineup, but his youth international experience is impressive.

Saints fans may be skeptical of Tounkara’s ability to succeed in the Championship after joining from Academie des Etoiles du Mande, but he could be a hidden treasure.