Southampton have reportedly identified Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Wimmer as their number one target if they lose Virgil van Dijk this summer.
Speculation continues to swirl regarding the future of Van Dijk, who has told the club that he wants to leave amid reported interest from Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Southampton have so far remained steadfast in their refusal to sell the Dutchman, but the Daily Mail reports that they have begun to make contingency plans in case Van Dijk does leave.
The Saints have been linked with Wimmer in the past, and the defender himself has said that he would prefer to stay in the Premier League should he leave Tottenham this summer as expected.
The Austria international could be available for around £20m, which would leave Southampton with a significant amount of money left over should a deal for Van Dijk go through.
Wimmer joined Spurs in 2015 but has made just 13 Premier League starts for the club since then.
Barney Corkhill
