I'd be gutted if we went for Hooper, as it would all but confirm the end of Lee's Saints career. Think he and Mayuka both deserve a chance, especially ahead of Rodriguez, who has been woeful for large parts of this season. I don't think Hooper is an improvement on what we already have anyway, he's pretty much Billy Sharp mk II.
Gaston won't leave, it's just the Italian media putting words in his mouth and regurgitating it as saying he wants to move back to Italy. As a Fiorentina fan I wouldn't be too disappointed if he went there, but the fact is Viola don't need him right now. With Aquilani, Borja Valero, Mati Fernandez, Jovetic and Ljajic, attacking midfield is the one position we (Fiorentina - gets confusing as I'm also a Saints fan!) really don't need to strengthen. I think Gaston will stay for a few years with Saints, especially if we make progress next year and finish in the upper echelons of the table.
I'd like to see the two Derby boys come in, especially Hughes. Looks a fantastic prospect. Are there any highly rated young defenders we could be looking at? Stephens appears to be a way off the first team right now, and other than Shaw all of our other high-potential youth seem to be attackers.