Southampton have moved quietly for a full-back while the noise around Shea Charles fills the back pages.
Sacha Tavolieri reported on the 25th July that Saints and West Bromwich Albion have both agreed a deal with Rodez for Nolan Galves.
The right-back will now choose his own destination. That call is expected within hours, according to the same report.
What Southampton would be getting
Galves is a wing-back keen to attack in Ligue 2. Last season, his FotMob profile shows seven assists at an average rating of 7.04.
He set up 48 chances and completed 57 crosses last term. One of those assists arrived in the promotion play-off.
Among Ligue 2 full-backs, FotMob ranks him high for assists and chances created. His defending isn't a strength, since that same profile puts him low for aerial duels and defensive actions.
Put simply, he offers more going forward than at the back.
The fee looks tiny.
Rodez set a price close to one million euros, around £850,000, while Transfermarkt values him at about £1m. For that outlay, a 23-year-old with an eye for the final ball is a low-risk gamble.
Ligue 2 to the Championship is a clear step up, though. He would also arrive as depth behind the dependable James Bree and the returning Mads Roerslev.
Saints Marching has picked apart the club's full-back squad planning before. Its coverage pointed to spells when injuries left the side short of a recognised option out wide.
Cheap cover in that position carries some sense.
Why West Brom might win the race
Here is the snag: Southampton are not the only club with an agreement in place. West Brom want him too, and the Baggies could need him more.
Tonda Eckert already has several senior right-backs, while Albion are thinner in that area. Game time tends to sway a young player weighing two similar offers.
If Galves wants to start every week, The Hawthorns could be the better destination. Southampton's own plans muddy it further, because whether the club sells or keeps its current full-backs will shape how much room a new arrival gets.
That uncertainty is something Saints Marching has weighed up before. There is a wider backdrop too.
Southampton begin 2026/27 in the Championship with a four-point deduction after the Spygate expulsion. Every squad slot has to earn its keep in a promotion year.
Verdict: 3/5. Smart value in a gifted attacking full-back, though the jump in level and thin defensive output pull the score down.
Likelihood: 2/5. The deal with Rodez is agreed, and the source is trusted, but Southampton must win a straight choice against a rival who arguably needs him more.
A cheap, creative full-back would do no harm. The catch is that the final word rests with Galves, and West Brom are whispering in the other ear.
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