Free agent Will Smallbone drawing Championship interest ahead of the deadline

This one is a report, not a done deal. Will Smallbone, the 26-year-old midfielder who left Southampton at the end of his contract this summer, is being monitored by several Championship clubs — and some Premier League ones — according to The72, citing transfer reporter Pete O'Rourke.

Smallbone's departure ended an 18-year association with Southampton that ran from the academy to 96 Championship appearances, nine goals and eight assists. His homegrown status is part of the appeal for top-flight clubs, though the reporting suggests the second tier is his likelier destination.

The free-agent wrinkle matters for deadline week: because he is out of contract, Smallbone can sign for a club even after the window closes at 11pm on 1 September. In practice, though, clubs want their business settled before the deadline, which is why interest is firming up now.

No suitor has been named, no terms are agreed, and until a club puts a shirt on him this remains an ongoing situation. We will update when something is actually signed.