Southampton have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Dinamo Zagreb attacker Mislav Orsic, according to a report.
Saints head coach Nathan Jones is looking to strengthen his squad in the January transfer market, with his side facing the prospect of relegation from the Premier League as they currently sit at the foot of the table.
Recent reports initially claimed that Southampton were closing in on the signing of 30-year-old Orsic in a deal worth around £7.5m.
However, the Daily Mail states that the Croatia international is now considering offers from other clubs and may opt against a winter-window switch to St Mary's.
Orsic experienced spells in Italy, Slovenia, South Korea and China before returning to boyhood club Zagreb in 2018, where he has recorded 91 goals and 40 assists in 214 appearances across all competitions.
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Orsic has won seven trophies during his time at Zagreb, including four successive Croatian top-flight titles, and has also featured regularly in the Champions League, netting twice in six group-stage appearances this season.
However, it is thought that the attacker is now seeking a fresh challenge in the prime years of his career, and it remains to be seen whether he will be tempted by a move to the Premier League.
While Southampton may miss out on recruiting Orsic, Jones is understood to have a number of other targets on his radar this month, including Racing Club midfielder Carlos Alcaraz.
The Daily Mail claims that the Saints have opened talks to sign the 20-year-old Argentine, who has also attracted interest from Inter Milan and Benfica.
Since making his professional debut in 2020, Alcaraz has developed into a first-team regular with Racing Club, recording 12 goals and six assists in 83 appearances across all competitions, and is regarded as one of the club's brightest prospect to emerge from their academy.
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Elsewhere, The Sun reports that Southampton have entered negotiations with Ligue 1 side Lorient over a potential deal to sign striker Terem Moffi.
The 23-year-old has made a bright start to the 2022-23 campaign, scoring 10 goals in 16 top-flight appearances, which is two more than he managed in the entirety of last season.
Only Paris Saint-Germain duo Kylian Mbappe (13) and Neymar (11) have scored more Ligue 1 goals than Moffi so far this term, and the Nigerian's form is said to have caught the eye of Southampton.
The Saints have only found the net 14 times in 16 Premier League outings this season, with Che Adams – who has been linked with a transfer to Leeds United – their top scorer with just four goals.
Oliver Thomas
