As I reported in an article earlier today Saints could make a couple of signings this week and now it is reported that one of those signings is said to be having his medical today at the club.

Latest reports are saying that the Lewis Dobbin transfer is a done deal.

Daily Echo reporter Alfie House who you would think would be the closest journalist to the club seems to think so, saying this on X

🚨 As reported by @TheAthleticFC, Saints have agreed a deal to sign Aston Villa forward Lewis Dobbin permanently. Expecting that to get done within the next few days. 23 year old scored 10 Champ goals at Preston last season, including one in both games against Saints.

Another X post this time from Saints Extra goes a step further.

🚨 Breaking: Southampton have agreed a deal to sign Lewis Dobbin from Aston Villa for £9m + add-ons — medical today #saintsfc @TheAthleticFC

On the face of it Dobbin had a great time at Preston last season on loan from Aston Villa, but his arrival would see a departure.

The hope is it is not Leo Scienza, Dobbin's main position was as a right footed left winger, that sounds familiar.

But at Preston they seemed to ignite his career which up to that point had been decidedly average, by moving him to a more central role.

From this perspective his record of 12 goals in 39 Championship games pales into insignificance when you consider that when Archer was on loan at Preston he scored 7 goals in 20 games and then followed that up the next season with 11 goals also in 20 games.

Playing Dobbin in a central role at St Mary's would also be a little strange given Tonda Eckert's penchant for playing a strong centre forward, Ross Stewart & Cyle Larin had different styles but where both essentially centre forwards, who could score from headers and bring others into play.

Dobbin would see to be in the Archer type of forward, someone who plays off a central striker.

That rarely happened under Tonda, he always seemed to have either Stewart or Larin on the pitch, never both, his preferred formation was about having a centre forward flanked by two wide men, usually Scienza, Fellows or Matsuki.

So where would Dobbin fit into this is a big question and and either bigger one is could this mean Scienza is going to go.

All Photos Via Reuters