Curtis Davies

[goneawol]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...mirezs-1282886

SOUTHAMPTON now head the race for Birmingham stopper Curtis Davies, writes James Nursey.

Centre-back Davies had favoured a move to Norwich, to link up with manager Chris Hughton, who he played for at Blues last season.

But Hughton’s signing of Spurs defender Sebastien Bassong has left Saints in pole position to grab the 27-year-old.

[S-Clarke]

Another CB thread then.

I like him, one of the players I wanted us to sign at the start of the window.

[doggface]

Not another Davis Davies

[Smirking_Saint]

Is he really 27 ?

Come find me on page 127 anyways, ill me in the muppet show

[The Kraken]

Yes please. Cracking player, was one I identified at the start of summer that I'd love for us to go for.

[Bailey]

I'm told our interest in Davies is genuine, and has been since the tail end of last season. Club representatives had attended a number of Brum games, with Butland, Redmond and Davies all being monitored.

Only surprise is that we haven't firmed up our interest sooner. Maybe he wasn't the number one defensive target?

For what it's worth, I feel Davies would be a great addition and is exactly the type of player we need.

If this move comes to fruition, wouldn't be surprised to see another defender join too.

[CWD]

Would love this to happen, he was quality last season

[Ex Lion Tamer]

Any guesses as to what the fee would be for him?

[The Kraken]

Any guesses as to what the fee would be for him?

27 years old, Championship team of the year last season, English player, Premier League experience. Of course it all depends on what Birmingham will take and how much he wants to get away, but I'd have though no less than £5M in the current (ridiculously inflated) market.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

Sounds about right. I just read that he once went for £8-10m which really is a lot

[Bailey]

Of course it all depends on what Birmingham will take and how much he wants to get away, but I'd have thought no less than £5M in the current (ridiculously inflated) market.

Will take at least £5m for Birmingham to even begin to entertain the idea of selling him.

Won't come cheap.

[SuperMikey]

Yes please! Would be a great signing.

[Colinjb]

A player who has never seemingly fulfilled his potential. Went from future England international to inconsistent liability at Villa.

Would be a gamble.

[SuperMikey]

My Brum mate says he's the best CB outside the Prem, and I don't disagree with him. Experienced at this level too.

[SaintBobby]

Are Brum still in the financial mire?

If so, they seem to be very tough negotiators....

[DT]

Yes please. Need plenty of CBs in. Big hole in quality ( still!). Seem to have been saying this for about a year now.

[saints_is_the_south]

Yes please, as some have already said he was a player I'd identified at the start of the summer as a CB I'd like us to sign. 27yrs old (so should be entering his prime years as a footballer), Prem experience and English.

Do Birmingham still have money/ownership issues?

[Colbury]

A player who has never seemingly fulfilled his potential. Went from future England international to inconsistent liability at Villa.

Would be a gamble.

Agree.

[Cabrone]

I'd take him, a cool calm and collected CB.

Was very impressed with him when we played up at Brum last season and from what I've seen I think he'd cut it just fine in the prem.

Not bothered about the Villa episode, that club seems to bring out the worst in every player and may well be going down IMO.

[Saint Garrett]

Been saying we should sign him for about a year. Hope we pull this one off

[Dalek2003]

Davis, Davis and Davies.....good one fopr the commentators !

[sussexsaint]

Davi(e)s is the new Dan

[itchen_dan]

James Nursey Mirror Journo

JamesNursey: Southampton #SaintsFC v keen on #BCFC Curtis Davies

[david in sweden]

Davis, Davis and Davies.....good one fopr the commentators !

and the contributors on here who can't spell either....

[jasoneuelllfanclub]

the question I have is he quick as in Jonno quick?

[saint1977]

I'm told our interest in Davies is genuine, and has been since the tail end of last season. Club representatives had attended a number of Brum games, with Butland, Redmond and Davies all being monitored.

Only surprise is that we haven't firmed up our interest sooner. Maybe he wasn't the number one defensive target?

For what it's worth, I feel Davies would be a great addition and is exactly the type of player we need.

If this move comes to fruition, wouldn't be surprised to see another defender join too.

Big yes please on this one, have always rated Davies and would be a superb partner for Jos. Get a faster left-sided centre half that can also play LB as well and that's the defence sorted.

[alpine_saint]

About the first decent rumour about a known quality decent player coming to Saints for at least a month.

Yes, please....

[Chez]

Mate of mine spoke with Curtis during the summer and at that point he had no strong desire to leave brum - mind you he's not going to tell an ardent Birmingham supporter any different. He's currently on about £30k a week and it will take a sizeable wage rise to get him to move. Brum will also demand well over £5m so I am told.

[Golden Balls]

Yay! Someone I've heard of...

[Matthew Le God]

About the first decent rumour about a known quality decent player coming to Saints for at least a month.

Yes, please....

So Gaston Ramirez and Matt Phillips (and a few others) aren't "known" or "quality"?

[eurosaint]

Are Brum still in the financial mire?

If so, they seem to be very tough negotiators....

Surely if they are desperate for cash it puts us in a stronger negotiating position, not weaker ??

[The Kraken]

Mate of mine spoke with Curtis during the summer and at that point he had no strong desire to leave brum - mind you he's not going to tell an ardent Birmingham supporter any different. He's currently on about £30k a week and it will take a sizeable wage rise to get him to move. Brum will also demand well over £5m so I am told.

Been thinking about this one; as much as it would be a great signing I think we'd have to break the bank for him, and I'm not sure if I think that's worthwhile. He's worth £5M IMO but not upwards of £7M or £8M. And Brum don't seem to need to sell, he's not itching for a move away, it could be a very tough sell.

[Saint Charlie]

Mate of mine spoke with Curtis during the summer and at that point he had no strong desire to leave brum - mind you he's not going to tell an ardent Birmingham supporter any different. He's currently on about £30k a week and it will take a sizeable wage rise to get him to move. Brum will also demand well over £5m so I am told.

All in, is he actually worth that? Good player, but is 27 and not really had a good spell in the Prem?

[Matthew Le God]

Brum don't seem to need to sell, he's not itching for a move away, it could be a very tough sell.

Are you sure about that? Their owner Carson Yeung is still in trouble for money laundering and they had numerous problems with their accounts relatively recently.

He goes on trial in November and his assets were (and possibly still are) frozen...

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmin...7319-31674698/

Plus I doubt many players would turn down a chance to move to the Premier League, I don't think Birmingham will be going up this season.

[The Kraken]

Are you sure about that?

No. Are you? It's why I said it "seems" like they don't need to sell. They may do, but there has been no major exodus from St Andrews over the summer and have brought in players who will likely be earning in the upper wage bracket for the Championship. Also a new manager who has publicly stated that it would take silly money to take away his star players.

So I'll stand by opinion thanks. It seems like they don't need to sell.

[Thedelldays]

No. Are you? It's why I said it "seems" like they don't need to sell. They may do, but there has been no major exodus from St Andrews over the summer and have brought in players who will likely be earning in the upper wage bracket for the Championship. Also a new manager who has publicly stated that it would take silly money to take away his star players.

So I'll stand by opinion thanks. It seems like they don't need to sell.

Like last summer when some were so sure that west ham had no money to spend what so ever

[Channon's Windmill]

Quality defender... not really sure how he has been languishing in the Championship for so long.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Quality defender... not really sure how he has been languishing in the Championship for so long.

Because the last time he was in the Premiership with Villa he was awful.

Personally I question his ability to step up to the Premiership based on his previous experiences. However, he is better than Fonte and Hooiveld, so worth a shot if the price (no more than £5m) and wages (no more than £30k a week) are right.

[Saint Charlie]

Because the last time he was in the Premiership with Villa he was awful.

Personally I question his ability to step up to the Premiership based on his previous experiences. However, he is better than Fonte and Hooiveld, so worth a shot if the price (no more than £5m) and wages (no more than £30k a week) are right.

5m a lot to spend if we arent sure he is up to the Prem though. I would share your concerns - clearly a very good player in there somewhere and more athletic than our current CBs - he would need to play at his best though and hopefully NA could get that out of him.

[The Kraken]

5m a lot to spend if we arent sure he is up to the Prem though. I would share your concerns - clearly a very good player in there somewhere and more athletic than our current CBs - he would need to play at his best though and hopefully NA could get that out of him.

Championship team of the year last year would suggest he was playing close to his best then, so he'd be a player in form.

[Chez]

At Luton he looked very much a Premiership player, even an England player if you ask me, but he hasn't reached those heights since (although a £8m transfer to Villa suggests his time at WBA wasn't completely unimpressive) and I wonder if he ever will. I've always rated him, but I wouldn't want us offering silly money to get him here, which I think we will have to do wage wise. Is he much better than the now lamented Fonte?

As for Brum's financial plight, they aren't flush, and Zigic's £50k a week wage is draining, but I think Carston Young has a minority share so his potential downfall won't neccessarily take them under. Actually the sooner he passes go and goes straight to where he belongs, Brum plight might improve. They'll stop using the club as a front for dodgy land deals and maybe focus on the football.

[Saint Charlie]

At Luton he looked very much a Premiership player, even an England player if you ask me, but he hasn't reached those heights since (although a £8m transfer to Villa suggests his time at WBA wasn't completely unimpressive) and I wonder if he ever will. I've always rated him, but I wouldn't want us offering silly money to get him here, which I think we will have to do wage wise. Is he much better than the now lamented Fonte?

Good summary IMO - will be interesting to see if anything comes of this.

[itchen_dan]

dankiz1: @JamesNursey How far down line are saints with Curtis Davies james? can't remember watching him play, does he possess pace?

JamesNursey: @dankiz1 #SaintsFC got a couple of defensive options pursuing and Davies is one of them

[Saint Charlie]

IMO if we get Curtis then we also need Kevin Davies to complete our Davi(e)s spine to the team.

[Turkish]

IMO if we get Curtis then we also need Kevin Davies to complete our Davi(e)s spine to the team.

If we can snap up Sean Davis from Bolton that wouldn't do any harm either.

[Saint Charlie]

If we can snap up Sean Davis from Bolton that wouldn't do any harm either.

Mark Davies is better IMO.

[Turkish]

Mark Davies is better IMO.

get them both on the bus FFS

[OldNick]

i would be happy with Curtis Davies but all the posts bandying about with wages of 30k plus is madness. These wages have to be found plus the ad ons of tax and NI etc

[Glasgow_Saint]

Played for Brum tonight!

[Le Goddard]

did he wave goodbye?