Southampton are eyeing a move for Atalanta defender Rafael Toloi during the January transfer window, it has been claimed.
The Brazilian centre-back arrived in European football when Roma signed him from Sao Paulo in 2014, but he returned to his homeland just half-a-season later.
Atalanta brought him back to Italy in 2015 and he has been a rock at the back of the Serie A side over the last three years.
His performances in Italy have been noticed by several sides and it has been claimed that Atalanta could be fielding offers for him from England in the winter window.
Mark Hughes is keen to add to his defence in January and according to Italian broadcaster Sport Mediaset, Toloi has emerged as a target for Southampton for the coming months.
The south coast club are expected to make a move for Toloi in January and table an offer to take the 27-year-old to England in the middle of the season.
It remains to be seen whether Atalanta would be prepared to lose a key player such as the defender in January.
The Brazilian has a contract until 2020 with the Serie A outfit.
