Saints boss Nigel Adkins completely dismissed the prospect of landing the VVV-Venlo player after Saturday's Premier League defeat to Wigan.
But it is understood Southampton were poised to complete the deal inside the next 24 hours.
The Championship runners-up are also eyeing three more signings before he transfer window closes on Friday night, on top of putting the finishing touches to a move for Bologna star Gaston Ramirez.
Prospective new team-mate Kelvin Davis has claimed the Ramirez raid proves the south-coast club mean business this season.
Saints returned to the Premier League this summer after a seven-year absence, but their campaign has yet to gather any momentum following back-to-back defeat.
Adkins has so far added Steve Davis, Nathaniel Clyne, Paulo Gazzaniga, Jay Rodriguez and Emmanuel Mayuka to his squad, but he hopes to do more business in the next 48 hours.
Top of his wish list is Bologna forward Ramirez. The Uruguay international has been in talks with Saints for some time and despite negotiations faltering at one point last week, an ?11million deal is now understood to be close to completion.
