Southampton boss Nigel Adkins has denied reports that the club have made a bid to sign Cagliari defender Davide Astori.

The Saints had been linked with a double swoop for Astori and Birmingham keeper Jack Butland in an attempt to tighten up a defence that has conceded the second most goals in the Premier League so far this season.

Adkins confirmed that Southampton had had a bid rejected for Butland, but denied reports of an offer for Astori, although the Italian is on the club's radar.

"I am aware of him, I know he is a good centre-half. We haven't put a bid in as far as I am aware and I don't think we've made any enquiries about him," said Adkins.

"You've asked me if I know about him and I know about him. We've got a very good European scouting network now. There are lots of players that we talk about, we are aware of, we scout but it doesn't mean we're going to buy them or make any inquiries. You need to be aware of them and that is something we have developed a lot over the last 12 months.

"Paul Mitchell has come in as head of recruitment from that point of view and it is something we've improved a hell of a lot of. We have a lot more contacts, a lot more of contacts we can ask, which is important."

Astori, 25, has been at Cagliari since 2008 and has two Italy caps to his name.