So why is Levy in Madrid while Koeman isn't, hmm? Here's another example of Koeman's word being meaningless... "Normally, you will play here much more than you will play at Arsenal, but finally it's always the decision of the player." Chambers appearance stats for 2013-4: 22 league appearances, 2 in the League Cup for a total of 24 Chambers appearance stats for 2014-5: 23 league appearances, 4 in the FA Cup, 2 in the League Cup, 7 in the Champions League for a total of 36
Well for a start Koeman is busy with pre-season training as he's the manager! And there are these things called phones and computers so you don't actually have to be in Madrid to negotiate with a Madrid based club.
Just to clarify my position, Alderweireld could well sign for either club or indeed a completely different one. None of us have any idea where he's going, at the moment, so the various quotes and rumours flying around are largely meaningless. I wonder how he's taking the news of another apparent clearout at St Mary's, though? Clyne's gone, Schneiderlin's on his way to Old Trafford (allegedly), their own players are talking about an exodus... It turned out fairly well for them last season, but it's not something you'd want to make a habit of.
Exodus? Clear out? What bollocks. 2 players max will leave this window (1 has already gone). ****ing hell that really angers me when 2 players leaving is considered an exodus.
Clyne, Boruc, Osvaldo, Hooiveld and a bunch of others have gone already. I wouldn't class that as an exodus or a clearout, as you clearly didn't want to keep most of them, but you've no idea who's staying or going. I'd have thought that you'd want to get rid of a fairly large number of your squad players, to be honest.
So you're telling me that Koeman doesn't feel it necessary to do more than send an e-mail to Atletico, even though they've already bought out the loan deal so nullified the clause saying you could've bought Alderweireld for £6.8m? Sorry, why do you trust this guy again?
I think it comes down to money . If you out bid us in wages massively ( which you can do ) he will probably go ( unless as I hope he is loyal ) , if you don't , he will probably stay , he does like Koeman from what I have read .
They have bought out the loan deal as it is obvious Toby is a class player and they can make a lot more money than if they let us have him for £6.8 million . That does not suggest to me that Koeman cannot be trusted , just that Toby's current team are looking for as much as they can get . Purrely buisness .
I worry for southampton tbh...alderweireld has already seen one of his defensive partners leave and is about to watch his defensive midfielder go...that could persuade him to go elsewhere which means they'd have lost 3 first choice players ... that is a lot to replace after having had to do the same last season. I have no idea if he is very good in his own right or was simply a part of a very good back 4. personally i hope southampton do really well again (apart from when they play us) but can see clubs showing interest is more of their players as deadline day looms and 'big clubs' start the season badly.
A top young striker of any description is probably worth getting. I would prefer a speed merchant and/or one who could play on the wing. But the Dutch league has been good for us lately.
Lets hope that Alderweireld, Chadli, Vertonghen and Dembele don't read this. Anderlecht's a part of Brussels!
You missed the part where buying out the loan deal means they can get a lot more money from a choice of several clubs, not just one. As for his mouthing off about Chambers, that's something that says he can't be trusted, given it's both an outright lie as well as the sort of idiotic comment Brendan Rodgers makes.
I've read a few comments from Soton fans claiming that if Toby joins us it's because we'd have offered higher wages than themselves... So hang on, the fact we're a bigger club and have 3 of his Belgian compatriots in the team plus the fact he played and won titles with Jan and Chris at Ajax would have nothing to do with it, no? Yes money always plays a part in a players' choice but without sounding too biased, a neutral player would choose Spurs over Soton any day of the week. If anything, the reason he'll sign for Soton is because they've offered the bigger wages and they should definitely be offering all they can anyway, with Clyne gone and Schneiderlin likely to go as well, not signing Alderweireld would be a huge kick in the bollocks for them, those three contributed to a great defensive record and so potentially going into the new season without any of them would be a huge blow.
I used to go there on business quite a bit. Yes, it's in Belgium, but it's 100% Flemish. If you speak French to the people there, they reply in English. Plus, unlike say, Brussels, you won't see one single word of French anywhere!
I didn't't realise you had three of his compatriots . Yes it will be a big blow if he does not sign for us .As for clubs and Morgan going , we cannot compete with the top clubs financially end of .
We have three Belgians (although we might sell Dembele) and of course Eriksen and Vertonghen were his Ajax teammates too. There are a few connections there. He's a player who we held an interest in a few years ago around the time we signed Vertonghen from Ajax, obviously his move to Athletico Madrid ended that interest but its no surprise that we're looking at him now he's available especially since he's got a year at a strong PL team under his belt. I take it that the Southampton fans very much assumed that his loan would be made permanent then?
No, we all assumed having seen him play that Atletico would be insane to let him go for the £6.8m fee so it was no surprise to see them cancel that agreement. It seems like you might be in pole position, if so, you've got yourself a class player and not only that, but a sound and level-headed character too. We'll fight you to the wire for him though.
