Saint Charlie

Not sure where anyone has got the idea that Toby doesn't want to join Spurs from? He has never said that. http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/tottenham-to-sign-player-at-any-cost-should-be-done-within-days

Good, and as expected... @svenclaes: No (Saints are not out of the race). I believe that #SaintsFC will match the offer from Spurs. #THFC

Not that it makes a difference but Toby is in Belgium at the moment, at a Music festival. Source: His instagram.

Pretty obvious he was a very good player. Probably nobody knew exactly how good he would be, but when we signed him it was clear he would be a very key part of the team. It isnt as easy as people seem to think to keep signing high quality replacements and also improve areas of the squad that were weak last season. Backup GK is still woeful, RB cover non existent etc.

You are correct.

The way Koeman was talking it was dealing with Atletico that was the issue, not anything with Toby. He can only sign for a team that has an offer accepted and right now that is Spurs.

Whilst that is true, it doesn't mean that he wouldn't also be keen to join Spurs. He can be happy to play for more than one club and Spurs has quite a lot of positives too, not least that they have actually put the cash up for him and have shown how much they want him.

Di Marzio usually bang on so that is a blow, especially at an affordable price.

Ihttp://tottenhamhotspur.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/alderweireld-wants-deal-by-12-july.html?m=1 Good summary of the current status.

Fair principle but petty if the consequence is losing out on the player.

Fair enough, but from what Koeman said it is the deal with Atleti rather than with Toby that is the issue.

Not really if the numbers mentioned in reports are correct. £10-12m is a bargain rather than overpaying. Plus we can add on top their fee they gave us, just give it back.

Arguably would have lost more influential players from last season's team than the players who left the previous summer (Lallana aside). If we continue to improve then that is some feat, whilst most of those around us are adding without the caveat of losing some of their top performers. Hopefully more good recruitment to follow like last year.

I think he did according to some Portuguese reports. According to this Levy wants it done by Sunday evening... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3149373/Tottenham-chairman-Daniel-Levy-arrives-Spain-hoping-complete-deal-Atletico-Madrid-sign-defender-Toby-Alderweireld.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490 If the £10m is true then thats a bargain. Koeman said it was "difficult" with Atleti, but surely if thats the price then you just bite their hand off.

He said to someone else that it is definitely true that Levy is out there trying to sign Toby. He is reliable on Belgian players so definitely a blow, you wouldnt travel there unless you felt you had a good chance of concluding it surely?

As soon as was clear AM would recall him and pay us the £1.5m we would have likely known how much it would cost to get him. Maybe it is just too much? Cannot blame the club if that is the case.

Yeah he is normally a pretty reliable source where Belgian players are concerned. Would be bad enough to not sign Toby, let alone for him to move there... I suspect as the Echo said that whilst he is happy to stay at Saints he probably would also find a move to Spurs quite appealing. No reason for him not to find both moves attractive, so hopefully we can at least force him to decide by agreeing a fee with AM.

http://www.claretandhugh.info/report-irons-one-step-away-from-top-defender/ WH close to signing Ogbonna apparently.

Poor again from Hants in the T20. After bowling 3 overs for 13 I am amazed Briggs didnt bowl his fourth. Also why play 5 bowlers?

@BFairthorne: Alderweireld talks have been very positive today. Levy confident he will become a Spurs player within next two weeks. He is probably a WUM. Edit: Seems he got fired by the Daily Star for continually making up quotes. Quite funny actually if you google him.

Bayern Munich I think. Worrying.

http://m.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/13346486.Austin_not_a_Southampton_target/?ref=mr&lp=1 Obviously fed by the Club.

And we wisely signed a Spanish Intl for a quarter of the fee they want for Austin. Austin is a good player but the Club have said we have no interest in him, we have already signed an attacker plus have Jay Rod back. People can mention him as much as they want all summer, but we aren't going to buy Austin, so its all a little pointless.

But the Club already confirmed we have no interest in him. Plus he is currently the subject of bids from the mighty Leicester and WBA.

Why does everyone keep going on anout bloody Austin?