Saint Charlie

Sounds like this could happen...

I think Koeman has been pretty honest. If Cork wants loads of game time he will need to move on. If he is happy as a squad player he can stay. Seems fair enough.

We obviously arent in for him. No chance we would give new deals to JWP and Davis and then chuck them out the team for an ageing player on monster wages. Its not the Southampton Way.

Might as well close this thread as Koeman said today we arent looking for another forward.

No. Would have to have signed by the lunchtime cut off so he won't be playing against us this season.

Having a medical at Swansea. Source: Pete O'Rourke - ex SSN.

Looks like he is known as FEC amongst some of the backroom staff (source: Kitman Forbsey on Twitter). FEC being of course Future England Captain.

Agree with most of that, but we won't get every deal right. Its a tough task to replace quality with quality, even tougher when you want to be competing for a European place but won't pay the type of wages that competitors will (for the right reasons of course). After the success of Tadic and Pelle a lot of clubs will look to Holland in the summer I think. We need to continually keep out in front in our off pitch structure and not relax now or others will catch up, and then in reality there isnt a lot to differentiate us from at least 10 other PL sides in terms of budget, attractiveness to players etc.

Will Cork even accept the move? If I were him I would wait until the summer and see what options I had as a free agent. Saints can't force him to leave now.

Interesting to see who replaces Clyne and Schneiderlin in the summer on that basis.

Once the sale is confirmed, Saints fans will do the usual and hugely downgrade his ability, slate his character and then declare his replacement to be far superior after one game.

Mirror's top United guy says they are confident of signing Clyne in the summer. I would imagine its fairly well placed confidence tbh. Would hope we didn't start talks when Koeman said but instead quite a while before that (a year or so back) but with all that was happening then at the club, it wouldnt suprise me and once Utd come calling arguably makes little difference. Would be a shame to only get half the we fee we got for Shaw though. Clyne is a £20m plus quality player.

Zzzzzz

Any top side could go and get him and none have. Speaks volumes.

1. Who says he doesn't make the bench? Thats an opinion. I would think when fit he has been left off the bench very few times. 2. Assuming we replace him then does that guy also not make the bench or someone else like Reed? 3. Should we then sell Reed? 4. Who the **** is Schneider?

I understand via Simon Peach and Press Association that Cork might move to Swansea or sign a new contract at #SaintsFC. I was told both looked likely and unlikely this morning.

£3m a great price for us to get if true for someone out of contract in a few months time who may not want to sign another one.

We showed Cork what we thought of him when we let his contract run down so far. Koeman in the summer said we would look at it in December. Im sure that made Cork feel very wanted.

Which is fine, but we don't buy famous, ageing "superstars" on big wages. Will believe it when I see it.

This won't happen IMO. Nothing from the Serbian, Portuguese or German media. All from the Daily Mail's least notable Journo.

Reed has shown anything like the composure on the ball that Cork does IMO. In the midfield 2 that sit deeper Cork is still 3rd best option I think.

Not a very Saints type signing.

Sad if this happens as Cork has been really good for us, and its another of the English players leaving. But good move for him if he goes for it. They play good football and are pretty stable. We clearly havent seen him as a key player otherwise we would have offered him a contract a lot sooner. Like a year ago.

Distraction of a cup final? Could be good for us. Hope they go far in the Europa too.

Navigated the early stages of the Europa League and also well in the race for fourth. Doing well, but we knew he would. He is a good Manager and players respect and want to play for him. Saints were interested in that Che Adams guy btw.