itchen_dan

So this IS the player we had a bid accepted for and it wasn't Damiao? Makes more sense considering it was from the Italian agent.

Just been on SSN transfer centre SKY SOURCES say Southampton are in pole position to sign Osvaldo and his club are trying to persuade him to join Saints.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/422052/Benfica-to-challenge-Fulham-Southampton-and-Inter-Milan-for-Pablo-Osvaldo?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-express-football-news+%28Daily+Express+%3A%3A+Football+Feed%29

@tancredipalmeri: Meanwhile, according to Sky Italy Inter manager Mazzarri has expressively requested to sign Osvaldo

@tancredipalmeri: Benfica have contacted Roma for Southampton's target Osvaldo, according to Sky Italy. Likely the deal would be linked to Cardozo exit

http://www.gianlucadimarzio.com/calciomercato/southampton-increases-offer-for-osvaldo-the-details/

Benfica also interested http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&nv=1&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://m.fcinternews.it/news/sky-osvaldo-spunta-il-benfica-l-inter-lo-vuole-123953&usg=ALkJrhhqWUn7jP1FW5d9u5vzZtb4qYxheQ

Inter are trying hard but haven't got the cash http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&nv=1&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://m.napolimagazine.com.cn/calcio/calcio-inter-mazzarri-non-molla-osvaldo-204427&usg=ALkJrhgxcZ1Ew3CNPzUnUKOFUFRMMV1mKA

This is the one the club really want...

reluctantnicko: @danbsfc Find it all a bit hard to believe. danbsfc: @reluctantnicko So do the majority of Saints fans! Similar to Ramirez last summer, will be a huge deal if the Don can pull it off. danbsfc: @reluctantnicko Same journo also saying Saints have an agreement of €18m + €2m in add ons with Roma. Huge fee. reluctantnicko: @danbsfc Sometimes the wild goose is actually caught ... reluctantnicko: @danbsfc Good players keep their value.

Right, according to Di Marzio (leading journalist in Italy) we already have an €18m + €2m agreement with Roma for the player dimarzio: @tarakammous al giocatore. 3 mil al giocatore. Col club c'è già accordo a 18 più 2 dimarzio: @ tarakammous to the player. 3 mil to the player. There is already agreement with the club to 18 plus 2

Another deadline day saga looms...

If my calculations are correct (probably not) then he'll be on around £50k p/w Not sure if that is before / after tax though £2.5m p/a (€3m eur) £208k p/m (€250k eur) £50k p/w approx. (€62.5k eur)

From Mina Rzouki, she was pretty on the ball with the Ramirez deal last summer Minarzouki: Southampton really pushing for Osvaldo, they have now raised their offer. Sachk0: @Minarzouki Southampton would have to be a chance for the top eight, based on signings and their performances at the end of last season. Minarzouki: @Sachk0 Pochettino is all Southampton need to push for a top 8 place imo Whatever that last tweet means, i don't know?

Come on Pablo... tancredipalmeri: Southampton have raised the bid re Osvaldo's wages, according to Sky Italy. So far the deal hasn't go through cause Osvaldo turned them down

@reluctantnicko: @danbsfc Osvaldo all very strange. Would his club send him out of Italy cheap just to stop him going to a rival? Maybe ...

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en?sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A//www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/de-rossi-avverte-roma-se-parte-osvaldo-perdiamo-un-grande-giocatore-474410 Seems his team mates get on with him well as well. Maybe this whole "attitude" thing has been blown out of proportion over 1 event and their fans won't let it go. I'll admit. I was not keen at first (attitude and commitment wise) but reading other reports and pieces similar to this one, I'm beginning to be won over... Quite quickly!

Now favourites with SkyBet at 2/1...

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fcinternews.it%2Frassegna-stampa%2Fcds-osvaldo-ha-deciso-vuole-lasciare-la-roma-123833 Seems he has decided he definitely wants to leave Roma. Would prefer Inter as it is in Italy but also London as he wants to please his girlfriend.

I would've had Downing here, definitely. Put his age to one side (29), for £5m, he'd have been ideal for us out wide. Was watching BT Sport season preview last night and Michael Owen was saying how brilliant he was in training but thought the big stages crippled him. Said he found it difficult to get his confidence up and belief in his own ability. He was an absolute star for Villa under O'Neill but really struggled at Liverpool as it was a big stage.

These teams all look pretty decent but there is one recurring theme that makes me shudder every time I see it... XYZ XYZ XYZ JOS FOX XYZ XYZ XYZ XYZ XYZ XYZ Those 2 playing alongside each other are giving me giving hauntingly crisp memories of early last season and the Newcastle away game. Please don't let this happen MoPo. Would rather play Yoshida despite his lack of fitness. A 60% fit Yoshida is 10x better than Hoof-veld, sorry, Hooiveld. Fox doesn't worry me. Does a solid backup job. For 2/3 games he'll be fine as long as he plays alongside a competent LCB. Alongside Hooiveld - teams will have a field day.

This report suggesting PSG in for him as well http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A//mobile.le10sport.com/football/mercato/mercato-psg-osvaldo-vers-la-premier-league-113643

There we go, from earlier today. http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en?sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A//www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/roma-nuova-offerta-del-southampton-per-osvaldo-473731

Plenty of twitter talk from Italy that we are set to make an increased offer for Osvaldo in "the coming hours" I'll see of there are any new articles floating around.

Just been discussed on Sunday Supplement. They all seemed to be in agreement it's great for Lambert and Southampton but goes to show how limited our striking options are. Martin Lipton was adamant Rickie Lambert won't get another call up and won't score 15 goals this coming season. Again. Grant Holt was mentioned and the simple response was "he now plays for Wigan". They all said second season syndrome for strikers and there is a big step up between Championship and Premier League but a HUGE step up between Premier League and Champions League / International football. I hate to say it but I'm in agreement. There is a reason were looking for another striker this summer. I just feel Lambert will struggle for goals this season. I don't think he'll struggle in the league performance wise, just that he'll struggle for goals.