Dutchman impressed with Saints' bid

Southampton are set to beat QPR and Fulham to the capture of Vitesse Arnhem midfielder Alexander Buttner with a £3million bid.

Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen have also shown interest in the 23-year-old former Ajax youth player who moved to Vitesse in 2008. Buttner has played over 100 times for the Dutch club and is now keen to join the Saints after helping his side to a seventh-placed finish in the Netherlands last season. The Dutchman, who can play any position down the left side of the field, has been in Southampton to get a feel of the club, and has reportedly expressed his delight with the atmosphere at St. Mary's Stadium. "I want to go to Southampton," he told De Telegraaf. "I'm waiting on the clubs to reach an agreement, but I'm counting on Vitesse. It will be a big blow for me if this transfer won't work out. I've been in Southampton and everything over there is perfect. "The club, the stadium, the way I've been received over there were all really surprising. Southampton have got big ambitions. With a new backer, they want to follow Manchester City." Vitesse are looking for £3.5million for Buttner, who has a contract at the GelreDome until 2013.