Premier League strugglers Southampton are considering making a move for Brentford defender Chris Mepham.

According to Alan Nixon, the Saints are keen on making a late January move for the big defender, who has once again been in fine form for the Bees this term despite the team in general struggling to make an impression on the league table.

Mepham has drawn praise this season for his performances at the heart of the Bees defence and has been rewarded with caps for Wales too, with manager Ryan Giggs keen on ensuring Mepham becomes a regular for his country down the line.

The 21-year-old, who can slot in across the back four, has drawn admiring glances throughout the season from a number of top flight clubs, but Southampton could well be the first to make a concrete move as they look to add quality to the squad and avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Mepham was with Chelsea as a youth player before moving to Brentford, where he was given his debut in the team by then manager Dean Smith. The big defender would no doubt command a decent fee if the Bees do sell, but Brentford do have a habit of cashing in on their talent in recent times.

The Verdict

I think it's inevitable that Mepham will move on eventually, so if Southampton stump up the cash this January, there's little reason as to why he won't move on now.

Mepham is a quality operator and has time on his side to get even better. A move to the Saints might well work out in the long-term for the Welshman.