Southampton set to miss out on a major target to a familiar Championship foe

Southampton isn't used to not getting its own way in the transfer market.

This summer, already, the Saints have smugly welcomed back Cyle Larin and Daniel Peretz, who were key to their late promotion push last campaign in the Championship.

Alongside feeling somewhat puffed up about the duo returning, the South Coast side still have their grip on Shea Charles, for the time being, with the gruelling saga over whether he'll join Leeds United continuing to drag on.

If it remains at such a standstill, he could feature for Tonda Eckert's men in the early stages of next season, in another boost to the ego.

However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows at St. Mary's on the transfer front, despite such a positive first glance, as a breaking development that has dropped regarding Will Lankshear will sting.

Saints set to miss out on Lankshear

While Larin returning for good has boosted the Saints' striker numbers, they desperately need more reinforcements up top.

Ross Stewart leaving the building this summer has left the South Coast side light in this area of the pitch, and with Cameron Archer linked with his own exit to West Bromwich Albion, another centre-forward signing will be deemed a big priority.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look likely that it will be Lankshear joining the ranks, despite the Saints' well-known interest, as a bombshell update on Monday night - via Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold - revealed that the Tottenham Hotspur youngster is in advanced talks with Middlesbrough over a permanent move, rather than relocating to St. Mary's.

This has since had an update, with the promising attacker set to have a medical at the Riverside imminently, as per Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas.

The Spurs starlet was Eckert and Co's chosen target to bolster the depleted striker ranks, but Boro have stormed in at the last minute to secure his services.

This is a crushing blow, with Lankshear ready to lead the line for Kim Hellberg's men with venom, after scoring 11 second tier goals last campaign with Oxford United.

Not only is it a heartbreaking turn of events due to the 21-year-old being a potent goalscorer, which is what the Saints have been craving, but it's the next destination he has chosen which really adds salt to the wound, with the Teesside titans a bitter adversary Southampton will butt heads again with next season, due to Spygate still lingering.

Middlesbrough will love Lankshear's decision

Indeed, Spygate was the tale of Boro and the Saints becoming sworn enemies, with Eckert's men kicked out of last season's playoffs, due to prying on Hellberg and Co's preparations for the tense contests.

While Hellberg has come out since to try and diffuse the hostilities between the two camps, the games between the two sides next season will be feisty, to say the least.

Boro will love the decision Lankshear has taken to enter into advanced talks with the club, over moving to the South Coast, as it adds a little bit more spice to these already hotly-contested matches.

Southampton's Riverside rivals will be aiming to have the last laugh even more, as Lankshear scores the goals that could send Boro up to the Premier League, at Southampton's expense.

Eckert's men can't be downbeat for too long about the 21-year-old opting to not move to St. Mary's, with alternative targets surely drafted up, to ensure they can still be in the promotion reckoning.

Ivan Azon might end up being their fall back option after losing out on the one-time U's loanee, as both the South Coast side, and their Teesside nemesis do battle again next season with refreshed attacking personnel.

Today's best reads

• Tonda Eckert reveals shock Southampton transfer update that changes everything
• Southampton could be tempted to snap up this £0 star to replace Ross Stewart
• Southampton already have their Ross Stewart replacement and they paid £0 for him
• The surprise striker Southampton could buy next and it's not Will Lankshear
• Southampton could pick up another Cyle Larin by winning race for attacker

This article was originally published on saintsmarching.com as Southampton set to miss out on a major target to a familiar Championship foe.