Southampton facing fight to keep Ramirez

Fiorentina have made Southampton star Gaston Ramirez their number one target - just over three months since he made a club record move to the newly-promoted side.

Southampton raised eyebrows earlier this summer when they spent £12m to bring the highly-rated Uruguayan from Bologna to St Mary's as he had previously attracted interest from Liverpool, Spurs and Inter Milan.

The 22-year-old, who featured for his national side at the 2012 Olympics, has racked up two goals and two assists in nine league appearances this season and established himself as a fans' favourite on the south coast.

But according to sources in Italy, Fiorentina are desperate to bring him back to Italy and have already initiated contact with the playmaker's representatives.

And they will be encouraged by the fact he expressed his admiration for the club last week.

He said: "Me to Fiorentina? It would be nice, they are playing very well and I like coach (Vincenzo) Montella.

"In every game the team are having fun, they have great quality. Why not? I'd come back in Italy, I like it and I was fine there."