Southampton FC and Watford facing fresh Leeds United transfer threat | OneFootball

Ilan Kebbal has emerged as a transfer target for four sides ahead of the summer window

With the Championship's regular season now having one month to go, many clubs in the division are likely to have somewhat kickstarted their preparations for the upcoming summer transfer window, which will largely coincide with the FIFA World Cup.

That is despite the fact that, ahead of the crucial weekend of Easter fixtures in English football's second tier, only one of the 24 sides are mathematically aware of their fate when it comes to automatic promotion, being involved in the post-season drama of the play-offs or being relegated to League One.

It is fair to say, though, that one Championship side who won't just have an eye on league developments in the coming days are Southampton, with the Saints just one of two clubs still representing the EFL in the latter stages of the FA Cup.

Instead of facing off against Ipswich Town on Good Friday, Tonda Eckert's side - who haven't tasted defeat in any competition since mid-January - are preparing for a crunch quarter-final tie against the Premier League's current leaders, Arsenal, at St Mary's.

Indeed, it is also a fixture which could take place, yet again, in the top-flight in just a matter of months, as last season's bottom side in the Premier League now find themselves immersed in a competitive tussle for the play-offs alongside the likes of Hull City, Wrexham and Derby County.

However, that isn't the only four-way tussle the South Coast side currently find themselves in, as they are now being linked with the prospect of signing a highly-rated winger from the continent.

Southampton FC facing Watford, Leeds United and Olympique Marseille transfer fight for Paris FC ace Ilan Kebbal

As previously mentioned, it is still unknown as to which division Saints will be playing in next season, but even as a Championship side, they would be expected to have some of the division's strongest pulling power as a result of parachute payments.

As such, it has been claimed by Africa Foot that Eckert's side are one of four clubs interested in plotting a move for Paris FC's star winger, Ilan Kebbal, in the summer window, which officially opens on Monday, June 15th and will run until August 31st.

However, Saints are not the only Championship side looking to add the services of the 27-year-old forward to their squad, with Watford also throwing their hat into the ring when it comes to signing the man who has netted eight goals and posted five assists across 25 matches in all competitions this season.

Premier League outfit, Leeds United, are also said to be monitoring the four-time Algerian international's situation, although it has been stated that the club with the strongest chances of signing Kebbal, at present, are fellow Ligue 1 club, Marseille.

The aforementioned report doesn't highlight the cost it would take for either of these sides to sign the winger, but it was claimed in January that Ipswich were plotting a £10m raid for the forward.

Southampton's chances of Ilan Kebbal transfer could hinge on promotion fortunes

It perhaps isn't the greatest of surprises that Marseille are the side said to be leading this transfer battle, and the French giants will certainly fancy their chances of luring Kebbal to the Orange Velodrome.

At present, Habib Beye's side are third in Ligue 1, a spot which would guarantee them an automatic place in the UEFA Champions League's 'League Phase' for next season, meaning the Paris winger could have the opportunity to test himself against some of Europe's best.

Therefore, Saints may be aware that their strongest chances of signing Kebbal are through regaining their place in the Premier League, which is still not a given as things stand, whilst others will feel that Watford are likely to be outmuscled despite Ed Still's links to managing in mainland Europe.