CSA96

Gianluca Di Marzio reporting that Celtic have rejected a third offer from Atalanta, this time for €17m + add-ons

Russell Martin on Matt O'Riley [Daily Echo] "Matty is someone I had a brilliant relationship with when I worked with him. "I tried to take him to Swansea and it would have been incredible business for them, as it has been for Celtic. I stay in touch with a lot of the players I work with. He's on a long list of players that I still stay in touch with and watch with pride at what they've done and got on to do. "We'll have to wait and see. We are not in a position where we're going to go & spend absolutely huge sums of money on players. I think Celtic want a lot of money for Matty as would I, as any club would for one of their top performers."

Yep, just got the notification too. Checked the app and all as expected, my ticket is in there and my old man’s has arrived in his app. Happy days

Me neither, guessing it might happen overnight

Presumably straight out to Turkey on loan once they arrive

Straight to Göztepe, you'd presume

I think it's far more likely we agree a fee, but then a much bigger/better club comes out of nowhere (likely a La Liga/Serie A side) and matches the offer, giving O'Riley a decision to make

Alfie House on Matt O'Riley: Minor update but personal terms should be no problem now, sounds like all sides happy on that front. Doesn’t mean anything will happen, still a way to go inc. meeting Celtic valuation and of course beating any other interested clubs but just to keep you in loop.

FT: Bordeaux 2-3 Saints

Saints lineup is now: Lis, Sugawara, Boot, Taylor, O'Brien-Whitmarsh, Smallbone, Downes, Aribo, Kamaldeen, Armstrong, Edozie

Sekou Mara's goal for 3-1

No changes at HT

Ahhh, it's good to have Saints back

Bordeaux 0-1 Saints Dibling forces an own goal

Saints v Bordeaux: Lis, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Manning, Alcaraz, Charles, Dibling, Amo-Ameyaw, Mara, Robinson

Sunderland Echo say Ipswich and Saints both keen on Jack Clarke but Sunderland’s asking price is £25m, due to a 25% sell-on which is held by Tottenham

Oh nice, that is a good bonus... I was slightly worried that loaning Rak-Sakyi and Brereton-Diaz would block out our chance of getting a solid #1 for the season Thanks CamSaint too. I read that same page and totally missed the national association line

Free to watch as well - will be on the Saints App and website

PL clubs are only allowed a maximum of two loan players in the first-team squad at any one time. So one of Ramsdale/Rak-Sakyi/Brereton-Diaz would need to get done as a permanent to facilitate all three coming in. Although I do quite like the look of that and the numbers don't feel unreasonable. Think we would probably still need another CM and another forward, though

Well, it could have been worse after all

Now a full article from Relevo: https://www.relevo.com/futbol/mercado-fichajes/brereton-acelera-vuelta-inglaterra-negociacion-20240723114552-nt.html Translation Ben Brereton's days at Villarreal are numbered. The talented Chilean striker is working on his return to England and in recent days talks with English club Southampton have intensified. The British club wants the forward and the player knows that he will not have a place at Villarreal this season, so it is a move that could come to fruition. Ben has not had many opportunities in the yellow club to show his worth either, after a start to 2023/2024 in which his participation was very low. In view of this situation, both club and player decided to go back to England on a mid-season loan in which he regained confidence, scoring 6 goals in just 14 games and showing that he has plenty of quality. It was all part of the plan. With that loan, either the doors of Villarreal were opened, or he demonstrated in England that he had enough level to play in the Premier. After the unviable first option, as the player already knows, the way to return to the Premier League is more than open. In fact, although last year he played half a season at Sheffield United, with this team relegated to the Championship, Southampton is the one that takes the lead. They are working on a loan with a purchase option, although at this time even a transfer is not ruled out. The reality is that these are hours of negotiations for a movement that all parties would view favourably. They remain to be finalised, but conversations are currently taking place. The list of suitors for the player is not low, because apart from Southampton, Ipswich Town has shown a firm interest in Ben, but currently negotiations are taking place with Southampton, who have already made Villarreal aware of their intentions and want to get the player before the competition starts.