Saints set to sign Cagliari´s Astori

Southampton are expected to announce the signing of Cagliari centre-back Davide Astori shortly.

According to Goal.com, the 25-year-old Italian international has agreed personal terms with the south coast club, believed to be in the region of 1.6 million pounds per season.

He is awaiting the Premier League outfit to reach agreement with their Serie A counterparts before making the move.

The Sardinian club were believed to be holding out for 11.3 million pounds for Astori, but that figure scared off Serie A clubs and should allow the Saints to reduce the figure to around 6.5 million pounds.

It is expected that Astori will also have a similar clause inserted to his contract as Gaston Ramirez did, allowing the Italian to leave for 6.5 million pounds if the Premier League strugglers are relegated.

Astori has previously been linked with a move to Juventus in the summer, before former club AC Milan attempted to take him back to the San Siro.

The Bergamo-born defender spent five years in the Rossoneri’s youth academy before spending two seasons on loan at Pizzighettone and Cremonese. He has since made over 100 appearances for Cagliari after joining the Serie A side in 2008 and has represented Italy twice.

Southampton have only kept two clean sheets in the league this season, conceding 38 times in 20 matches, and look set to be without captain Jose Fonte for some time after the Portuguese defender was stretchered off with a knee injury in the 5-1 FA Cup loss to Chelsea on Saturday.