Saints transfer rumour thread

Simon Peach on Twitter:

"I understand talk of Coutinho to #SaintsFC is wide of the mark. Interest in summer but Ramirez came in. Sounds as if agent is playing games."

 

Simon Peach ‏@SimonPeach

I understand talk of Coutinho to #SaintsFC is wide of the mark. Interest in summer but Ramirez came in. Sounds as if agent is playing games.

Edit :Beat me to it

 

Still won't believe it until I see it Peach says he is doubtful we have made a bid.

 

7 reasons Coutinho will sign.....

So, this Coutinho fella.... We're definitely signing him, but here's why:

1) He's a young highly rated footballer, check!
2) He plays in a league our scouts/contacts are familiar with, check!
3) He's under the age of 25, check!
4) He's played for the new manager previously, check!
5) He's priced in that magic we're offering £8m, but the selling club want £12m range, check!
6) He opens up another country (Brazil) whereby the signing may lead to the press in that country thinking 'Southampton, they're a big club now', check!
7) Despite being the ripe young age of just 20. Coutinho got married on 27th December, 2012, check! (see Saints Philosophies thread, and then article below)
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...outing-1549155

Now, if he doesn't fit the 'Southampton Way' I don't know who does!

Over and out,
Lat

 

I never thought I would see Southampton interest used as a ruse to push the price up

 

Of course there could be one simpler reason he won't sign....

1) We may not have bid for him.

Lat

 

Simon Peach on Twitter:

"I think a lot of games have been played this window by folk in Italy. Using #SaintsFC to drum up interest & €s with certain players."

 

Joan Verdu joining Atletico Madrid apparently

 

Wonder if we were ever actually in for Astori or Coutinho.

I'd expect one more signing in the next week, from Spain, but probably not from Espanyol. Can't see that they have anyone we need really.

 

Maybe cortese is being cunning getting the Italian media to use us as a way to raise interest in players. It certainly gives us big publicity!

 

It's nice to be a credible bidder for these players isn't it? That Ramirez signing has really put us on the map.

 

Not surprised really, as I was struggling to imagine how he'd fit into our team. I don't believe we'll be getting Coutinho, Biglia, Fernandez or any of the players mentioned over the last couple of days to be honest. All good players, but not really what we should be looking for and probably quite expensive considering we don't really need them.

 

The first of many. it started with Japan then Italy most recently Norway and next it will be Spain. Cortese you clever bastard.

 

This is the better Liverpool thread on Coutinho. Rivals the 'Saint Gaston' one. Whilst a lot is derogatory it's great to read some of the remarks regarding our stature (or the despair at the perceived drop in Liverpool's stature and spending power.)

http://forums.liverpoolfc.com/threads/329553-Philippe-Coutinho-(alleged-bid-in-place)/page73

Personally not sure whether to believe that we have had a bid accepted or whether we haven't bid at all, but with Puncheon's situation I could well see a way that Coutinho would fit into our front 4. Would be as flexible as most top front 4s with Rickie, Adam, Gaston and Coutinho being able to swap in and out of positions ala 'The Southampton Way'

 

I thik the original story came from Italy's main sports newspaper:

http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/...ered-more-than-liverpool-for-coutinho-and-int

http://api.ning.com/files/yPWOjLyPf...P1uwCNy4STlLNV1WPYqqzokP/gazzettacoutinho.PNG

 

Love that we are actually involved with players that could walk into most PL teams, to be in a position to outbid teams like Liverpool ( they did waste all thier money on dumb domestic buys though) To think that we are linked with a full Brazilian international, even if its not going to happen it is exciting. Hope it does though as the trio of Adam, Gaston and Coutinho would be really exciting to watch

 

New Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino insists he is not looking to sign players from former club Espanyol. Full story: Talk Sport

 

Simon Peach said the same thing about the Ramirez transfer to start with. He has good ties with Sibley and the media team but they won’t tell him about transfer targets until it’s more or less a done deal. The reason being that as soon as he is told something he puts it straight on Twitter, he can’t help himself. He is good for team news as he is present in most press conferences but he always seems to be a little bit behind when it comes to transfers IMO.

I still believe we are in for Coutinho and would not be surprised if we have had a bid excepted. I would however be shocked if he chose us over Liverpool. I know we are trying to sell a project and a vision of the future to these players. But Liverpool have similar objectives and they are a little further down the line to achieving it.

I would tend to trust the words of Guillem Balague a little more with us now. He said he had a strong contact who said we were going to bid for Coutinho a day or so ago.

Time will tell

 

Guillem Balague certainly seems to be itk.

 

I'm probably asking a dumb question, but if he is so good, why do Inter want to sell him?

They got money issues?