Saints swoop for Prutton

Saints hope Prutton will be one for the future

Southampton have made a deadline day swoop to sign highly-rated Nottingham Forest midfielder David Prutton for £2.5m.

The Saints had a bid for the England Under-21 midfielder rejected a fortnight ago, but cash-strapped Forest accepted another offer late on Thursday evening.

Prutton travelled to Southampton to hold personal talks and a medical on Friday morning before putting pen to paper on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

Saints seal Higginbotham deal

Prutton, 21, will not figure in Saturday's home game against Manchester United as he did not complete the move in time for the noon deadline.

"We are delighted to have got him," Saints chairman Rupert Lowe told the club's website.

We are confident David will prove a sound investment for the future

Saints chairman Rupert Lowe

"He is a really good player and all the training staff were very keen to sign him. This is the big one we wanted.

"But we were not prepared to pay over the odds so it was a question of holding our nerve and making sure we got the best possible deal for this club.

"We are confident he will prove a sound investment for the future and give our squad a boost for the final third of the season."

The versatile Prutton has played on both flanks and in central defence, but has been used mostly in the centre of midfield.

He is well known to Saints reserve coach Steve Wigley, who has worked with the player at both Forest and with the England Under-21 squad.

Meanwhile, Derby County confirmed they have received an improved offer from Southampton for defender Danny Higginbotham.

Southampton made the new offer on Thursday and it is now under consideration by the Rams' board.

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