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Okay guys I know my previous reputation isn't great, but here is what I am hearing this evening...
Reading's Brian Howard has agreed terms with Saints, however we are waiting on another option of a player - ultimately just waiting for Mr. Cortese to finalise Howard's deal. ( All fine by The FA and Reading, just waiting on Saints )
He is a Southampton fan and started out in the Saints Academy, born in Winchester into a family of Saints fans, most of whom still live in the area.
Howard has an apartment in Southampton and can be seen around occasionally.
Appears all of us including Brian are awaiting an announcement as to whether it is him or the back up, depending on who the back-up is.
Part of the deal is a potential ã300k signing fee to make any deal permanent in the summer, which I would consider good value.
Also on Twitter this afternoon a football agent tweeted:
On a train down south for contract talks. Some prep in a coffee shop for a couple hours then going into battle.
Surely Cortese isn't THAT bad?

He has been out of the mix a bit at Reading and so is lacking a bit in fitness, he has played in L1 before and was part of the Barnsley team that beat Chelsea and Liverpool in the Cup (Which one?!) a few years back, he was actually the captain and scored the winner against Liverpool, earning him the interest of Sheffield United, but times change and Howard is now out of favour at Reading! As captain of a Barnsley side consistently in the top half he is a ball playing midfielder, similar to Schneiderlin and would compliment Hammond/Chaplow well, and bring Lallana and Chamberlain into the game. He is also left footed and capable of playing on the left or in behind the strikers. He is 28 years old, and has a wealth of experience, representing Swindon, Barnsley, Sheffield United and then Reading.
Hope this helped, don't start shooting me down if Nicola goes for Option B / Cheaper Option.
DTLW
