Saint Albert

I think that it is good to take a principled stand against a side that has repeatedly turned the heads of our players since returning to the Premier League. Of course contact happens all the time but this level of personal persuasion involving the team's manager has crossed a line, which explains why the club are being described as "incandescent" in the media.

#quietsummer

I hope that Saints can wrestle back some semblance of control over this situation. Liverpool practised the "dark arts" of transfer deals in order to prevent an expensive bidding war, and got caught mainly through their own stupid triumphant leaks. For me it would be unconscionable for Saints to sell to them. It would not be the end of the world if he went to Arsenal, United, Chelsea or City for an amount approaching Saints valuation, especially as, player power being what it is, he throws a nuclear-level hissy fit. Just not Liverpool and they should tell VVD's agent as much if VVD really is unhappy at the idea of staying here.

Good.

Well, if he's gone I hope that they get the appointment of his successor right. The names floating around are underwhelming.

Assuming the Mirror's report is accurate (a significant assumption), if that is not an illegal approach then the footballing authorities might as well tear up the rules on tapping up and declare it open season.

Fair point. It tends to be a forum with lots of extreme emotional ups and downs though.

We're also apparently at Evertonian levels of nastiness.

Wasn't that more of a contractual dispute?

It should not be too hard for them to understand: Klopp is on the record as saying that he has talked to Liverpool's summer targets. Yesterday's reports (if true) indicate that VVD chose Liverpool because of direct persuasion from Klopp. The scousers were falling over each other yesterday to praise Klopp for getting this deal done. No one bothered to get permission from SFC. Sounds like a direct, manager to player illegal approach to me. Well done to Les, Ralph and the team for calling them on their bull****.

It's the treating of our club like the rubber stamp at the end of the process that irritates me. It's done both on their forum and in the red tops.

It seems obvious that agents run between different clubs and players all the time. Lots of stuff goes on that seems to contravene tapping up rules, but they never make it to formal complaints. In this instance, having Klopp personally contact VVD to persuade him to select Liverpool was especially egregious and worthy of a complaint, if it was not authorized by Saints. It may make me sound petty and bitter, but this news has made my day. The smaller club is biting back.

Well this is lovely news to wake up to (it's 6:40 a.m. over here).

"Southampton file tapping up complaint against Klopp and Liverpool" might sell a few.

Liverpool unleashes a volley of publicity utilizing the entirety of the nation's media, and Saints produce this little wet fart of a reply in the Echo. Not a particularly inspiringly response. It troubles me that all this has gone on without anybody bothering to contact the club, but that's modern sports I suppose.

That's the spirit. I particularly enjoyed this goal.

Nor should you be...

We're in a strong position unless VVD "agitates", and even then we could still get a year like Morgan and Vic.

It's certainly an opportunity to improve our depth at CB...but selling to Liverpool EVERY summer is tedious and embarrassing. I'd like to see us tell them to take a flying leap for once and also file a tapping up complaint if this contact with Klopp was unauthorized.

Good to know.

It's not Wilson, but according to the Telegraph VVD has not yet asked for a move, and Liverpool have not yet tabled a bid. A deal "is not close and will require some tough negotiating"... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/06/05/virgil-van-dijk-wants-move-liverpool-summer/

Semedo's price may increase if the seller learns Saints are about to become £40-70 million richer.

I can't see Saints offering Sakho the kind of salary he's become used to at Liverpool.

That's my take on VVD as well...hope we're right.

Well, at the risk of sounding like too much of an optimist, if Liverpool have talked VVD into going there, they still have to persuade Saints to sell. I can see them lowballing on the basis that they have already won and making it easy for Les to say no. Les with his "quiet summer" and Ralph with his we don't have to sell lines...time for actions to match words. Just say no, and keep VVD for one more year. I'm interested to know what role, if any, Saints played in the process that took VVD to saying yes to Liverpool. Did they authorize Klopp and Liverpool to talk to him? Did they authorize it via VVD's agent, letting the selling price be known? Or is this simply a very public example of tapping up?