As The Pitch Prospect has learned, Adam Lallana has been involved in talks about a possible return to Southampton.
The midfielder joined the Saints’ academy in 2000 and played for the first team for eight seasons, making 265 appearances.
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Lallana signed for Liverpool in 2014, with whom he won the Premier League and Champions League, before returning to the south coast with Brighton six years later.
However, he could return to Southampton this summer after the club’s immediate return to the Premier League.
Russell Martin’s side beat Leeds United 1-0 in the Championship play-off final on Sunday to secure a place in next season’s top flight.
Lallana, who had previously made 68 Premier League appearances for the club, was present at the victory at Wembley.
The 36-year-old announced earlier this month that he would leave Brighton this summer after four years at the club.
He made 104 appearances for the club in all competitions, including reaching the round of 16 of the Europa League this season.
With his contract at Brighton expiring, Lallana is expected to join Southampton as a free agent ten years after leaving the club.
However, he is not the Saints’ first signing of the next season, as their victory in the play-off final on Sunday triggered a transfer.
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Taylor Harwood-Bellis joined Manchester City on a season-long loan in September; his contract included an obligation to buy.
This came into effect after Southampton secured promotion back to the Premier League and the centre-back will join the club permanently in a transfer said to be worth £20 million.
Martin’s team is one of only two teams, along with Leicester City, to have returned straight back to the top flight after being relegated last season.
Ipswich Town will also join them next season as the Tractor Boys return to the Premier League after a 22-year absence.