Saints News & Rumour Mill

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Defender move in doubt

Hungarian trialist Tamas Vasko has returned to his homeland with Southampton boss George Burley staying tightlipped on the player.

Vasko has been on trial at the club along with fellow defender Gregory Vignal but unlike the Frenchman, the central defender has returned to his club Ujpest with no word on whether or not he will sign.

Burley has made it clear that he wants to sign Vignal and is locked in talks with the player with a view to wrapping up a loan deal, but Vasko may miss out.

The Saints boss has made no comment on the player but it does not look too good following the player's return to Hungary.

Vasko can't be that good if they are in doubt of signing him and Saints should go for a better option.

[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

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Burley wants Rasiak stay

George Burley has urged Grzegorz Rasiak to stay at Southampton and fight for a place in the side.

Rasiak was Southampton's leading scorer last season but came under pressure for a starting spot following Marek Saganowski's arrival in January.

He has attracted attention from elsewhere this summer and Sheffield Wednesday announced this week that they had opened talks with Southampton.

Burley has reiterated that he would like to keep Rasiak but has told the striker that he must continue to prove himself if he wants to play regularly.

"There has been interest and I have spoken to Greg and told him he is very much in my plans," Burley told Southampton's official website.

"He knows there's competition for places here but I am keen for him to stay and I think he wants to stay and fight for a spot.

"Grzegorz naturally wants to be first choice, but I've got four other quality front players who all want to be in the team as well.

"As a manager, that's the sort of situation you want to be in."

Source: Skysports

I think Burley haven't been fair to Rasiak and now he could lose him.Although he scored a lot of goals last season he got benched for a player like Leon Best on terms to keep Best at the club.Not because he was a better striker...I can understand if Rasiak choose to leave and that will be Saints loss.And Leon Best...he leaved the club anyway.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Laws unhappy with deal collapse

Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws has condemned Southampton after his move for Grzegorz Rasiak fell through.

The Owls' bid for the Poland international striker was accepted by Saints but after the South Coast side made increased demands, Laws called off the deal.

"We are very disappointed," Laws told the club's website. "Negotiations have been going on a while, we have been going through the motions and the deal has been on and off.

"I have seen the contents of the letter from Southampton and they accepted a substantial offer but they have now changed their demands. It has been very frustrating because they have changed the goalposts."

The collapse of the Rasiak deal comes as a further blow to Wednesday after former Holland striker Patrick Kluivert turned down a trial at the club earlier this week.

"We are looking at other options, we are looking globally," Laws continued. "There's not a player we haven't looked at.

"But we have to make sure the player is right for Sheffield Wednesday and we will not pay over the odds."

Source: Skysports

I think it's important for Saints to keep on Rasiak.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

George Burley has played down any interest in Sam Sodje and is not looking to ship John Viafara off to West Bromwich Albion.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Andrew Surman has penned a new four-year deal with the South Coast outfit.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Reading defender Alan Bennett have join Saints on loan.The Republic of Ireland international has secured a six-month stint with Saints and featured in Tuesday's pre-season friendly with Millwall.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Southampton have rejected Derby's £5million bid for Kenwyne Jones. The Rams tried for the Trinidad & Tobago international last week, but they returned with an improved offer. However, The Saints were quick to rule out a sale of the 22-year-old.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Saints look to sign Knol

Southampton are in talks with Dutch defender Ruud Knol.

The 26-year-old is currently out of contract and on the lookout for a new club, and joined the South Coast club on a two-day trial on Monday.

After an impressive showing in Southampton reserves' 2-0 victory at Woking on Tuesday night, Southampton boss George Burley is thought to be keen to add the defender to his squad.

Knol let his contract at Vitesse Arnhem expire this summer as he decided he needed a new challenge after seven years at the club.

The player had previously been linked with moves to Sunderland and Cologne.

Source: Skysports

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Pele set to leave Saints

Southampton defender Pele looks to be close to leaving St Mary's after manager George Burley confirmed a fee has been agreed for his services.

Pele is now negotiating with the unnamed club, with West Brom thought to be the most likely candidates.

"He's in talks with another club, so we'll just have to see how that materialises," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"A fee has been agreed between the clubs."

Pele joined The Saints last summer from Belenenses on a three-year deal.

Source: Skysports

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Saints got £800,000 bid for Plymouth's David Norris rejected. Ian Holloway insists he is not looking to sell his key players.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Southampton v Crystal Palace Preview

Youssef Safri, Gregory Vignal and Adam Hammill are all in line to go straight into the Southampton side against Crystal Palace.

Saints skipper Claus Lundekvam (ankle) and Darren Powell (suspended) are absent from George Burley's backline.

Palace manager Peter Taylor will have to do without midfielders Paul Ifill, Mark Kennedy and Carl Fletcher against Southampton.

Tony Craig, Jeff Hughes and Jose Fonte could all make their debuts, although the latter is likely to start on the bench.

Skysports

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Rams won't give up on Jones

David Kelly insists Derby County's bid to sign Southampton striker Kenwyne Jones is not 'dead'.

The Rams have had a £5million offer for the forward rejected, with Southampton unhappy with how the situation has been handled.

But Derby are not relenting in their pursuit of the Trinidad & Tobago international, with assistant manager Kelly confirming a deal could still happen.

"A bid has gone in and we are waiting to hear," said Kelly.

"As far as I'm aware the deal is not dead, and the two clubs are still talking.

"We are hoping for something because he is an exciting player, a very young talent who will give us a different option up front.

"He has an extreme amount of pace, and if we are fortunate to get him then he will be a valuable added member to the squad."

Unsettling

Meanwhile, Saints manager George Burley is adamant Jones will only leave St Mary's if the club receive a satisfactory offer.

Burley told a Radio Solent fans' forum: "If the offer is not right for the club then we won't accept it. It has not been right so far and it would have to be right for us and for the player.

"Speculation from Premiership clubs is unsettling because the type of money they pay is unreal. But how do you stop it?

"We don't want to sell Kenwyne, but even Manchester United have to look at it if they get a big offer for a player.

"We want to keep Kenwyne unless we get an offer which will take the club forward."

Source: Skysports

[Huckerbys right foot]

4-1 to Palace..ouch


any Saints fans off to Carrow next week?

if so i'll be happy to meet anyone to show you around or something

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Originally Posted by Huckerbys right foot

4-1 to Palace..ouch


any Saints fans off to Carrow next week?

if so i'll be happy to meet anyone to show you around or something

I think they already looking forward to it.