If it is "quite simple" and "the oldest trick in the book" then why would the clubs not be aware it is newspaper bull****? I doubt they take any notice of newspaper rumours and certainly wouldn't let it dictate there decisons over multi-million-pound deals.
"As well" as who? Do we have any concrete evidence Saints want Ings? Adam Blackmore has rubbished the rumour this morning and the club leak things to him.
I haven't seen them play, so of course it isn't going to be particularly accurate compared to the older age groups. Some things aren't numbers, a lot of non numerical data fields in the database that are factual rather than subjective.
Paulo Lubamba is 15 years old, so can't join until he turns 16 in September.
I think calling him "one of the best young players in world football" is a stretch. If that were the case wouldn't he stay at Madrid?