[Mighty T.A.L.]

Owls step up Rasiak bid

Sheffield Wednesday have announced they have opened talks with Southampton about the possibility of Grzegorz Rasiak moving to Hillsborough.

Owls manager Brian Laws has revealed the former Derby and Tottenham striker is now his No.1 target after Dutch forward Partick Kluivert turned down a possible move to Wednesday.

However, Laws, who has been chasing a new striker since he lost Steven MacLean to Cardiff in June, admits there is still work to be done before any deal can be struck.

"We are hoping to make some kind of breakthrough in the next few days," Laws told the Yorkshire Post.

"Until we get permission to talk to the player, there is no other issue to be discussed."

Rasiak joined Southampton in May 2006 when he left Tottenham for £2million after an initial three-month loan move was made permanent.

The 28-year-old has scored 21 goals in 44 Southampton first-team appearances, but Laws is optimistic that he will be able to capture the Polish striker despite Saints manager George Burley previously insisting that Rasiak is not for sale.

"Southampton have been in touch," Laws added.

"It's a positive note, they are not telling us to go away.

"I know it has been a long drawn-out process, but the fact that it got out in the open has made it more difficult because everyone is impatient."

Source: Skysports