According to reports in France, Southampton and Claude Puel are set to beat West Ham to the signing of free agent Jeremy Pied.
The 27-year-old former France U21 international was released by Ligue 1 side Nice this summer after making 35 appearances for the club this past season.
He signed for Nice for £2.25m from Lyon where he had spent all of his professional career, barring a short loan at FC Metz. Nice loaned Pied out in the 2014/15 season to EA Guingamp.
Pied is a natural right-back, but has filled in at left-back sporadically in his career while also being used regularly in a more advanced role on the right of midfield.
Southampton recently appointed Nice manager Claude Puel as their new manager following Ronald Koeman’s departure to take over at Everton, and Puel worked closely with Pied during their time together in France.
Despite having both Cedric Soares and Cuco Martina as viable options at right-back, and signing right-winger Nathan Redmond from Norwich already this summer, Puel wants to bring in the versatile Pied to add depth to his squad as the Saints, like West Ham, have the Europa League to deal with next season as well as the domestic campaign.
