GGalpin

I believe the term CB Fry uses with stuff like this is 'drivel'.

http://gianlucadimarzio.com/it/calciomercato-sampdoria-inserimento-del-benfica-per-vietto Seems we were one of many linked to him.

It's astounding sometimes how much Long can get away with poor performances and body language just because he runs around a bit. Don't get me wrong, I do like Long. He comes across as a top bloke, family man and for the most part a good professional. He does cause defenders problems and for a medium sized striker his ability in the air is superb. But hard work is only so much- if you wanted just hard work, I'm sure you could find plenty of players who work hard and run around. The difference at this level is technique- people have slated Tadic, Boufal and unbelievably at times Mané; they all have the ability to make that difference and the technique to pull it off. But they're slated when they don't give good displays and Long will be excused it.

The original found here.. http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/sandro-wagner/sagt-england-ab-52493776.bild.html

But then Saints will match that? We broke our transfer record for Boufal last year, and spent nigh on the same amount for Gabbiadini. Whether VVD leaves or not, I'm fairly confident we'd break the £20m mark for who Saints feel is the right player.

General rule of thumb on transfer stories like this involving three clubs is one is not interested whatsoever, one is sort of interested but not seriously just yet, and the third is very interested but the story is leaked to try and gain more interest from the 2nd club or others. Where Saints fit in, no idea.

All for it if there's a buyout clause to be honest, but if not no point like you say.

Clasie's agent saying him leaving may not happen now because of the manager change. https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=it&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lalaziosiamonoi.it%2Feditoriale%2Fesclusiva-lazio-clasie-l-ag-chiarisce-c-e-un-nuovo-tecnico-puo-restare-al-southampton-84761&edit-text=

Ruben Loftus-Cheek on loan (Darren Lewis at the Mirror) http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/southampton-hoping-beat-newcastle-brighton-10756743

But if City have got a £35m buyback clause on him, is it really worth it for what is basically a glorified loan to get round FFP?

He's really average, to be honest.

Missing out Schneiderlin's sale to suit the agenda and going with the lowest reported fees (Mane was £30m rising to £38m, Pelle was £13m, Fonte was £8m, Wanyama was £12.5m ditto Clyne, Juanmi £5m). Classic. Anyone would think you're being a Richard for being a Richard's sake...

Jos Hooiveld for me.

But that's the standard of CB we should be looking at, rather than being sentimental. As much as I like Yoshida as a decent PL CB and a seemingly excellent professional, sadly he's not good enough to be first choice for a club aiming for top eight. Considering how heavily we were linked with Ruben Semedo it's not hard to think Saints feel the same way.

https://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?57377-Rumours-of-takeover-investment-interest&p=2508949#post2508949

Blackburn fan on my work placement absolutely raved about him. Said he was brilliant for them in an otherwise poor team

At least he's not the Polish Alan Bennett

@saintandy7: According to Companies House Katharina Liebherr is no longer a director of Southampton Football Club Ltd https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00053301/filing-history #saintsfc

The website I write for, St Mary's Musings, have done a Q&A with a Polish football expert and it definitely sounds like what we expected; he's one for the future, not to go straight into the team. https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/2017/7/1/15907870/transfer-lowdown-jan-bednarek-southampton-lech-poznan

No problem with that if I'm honest.

He's followed him for some time, he done a big interview with him a few months back...

Offset by giving him a large signing on fee. Andre Ayew went for 'free' to Swansea but they paid an £8m signing on fee.

If good business is giving a 35 year old striker £65kp/w wages for three years, buying a substitute goalkeeper for £10m who was on £60kp/w at Chelsea so presumably earning a similar amount, and signing a player Chelsea barely used for £20m, then count me out.

Little bit on Defrel to Saints here: http://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/stadio/calciomercato/2017/06/28-27262798/calciomercato_sassuolo_le_big_vogliono_berardi_defrel_e_acerbi/?cookieAccept

I would probably discount it somewhat, given F365's Mediawatch has had previous with the exclusives. http://www.football365.com/news/mediawatch-jfk-the-moon-landings-wayne-rooney