NEWLY-PROMOTED SOUTHAMPTON are on the verge of getting one over on two of their Premier League rivals.
Bologna midfielder Gaston Ramirez was being chased by both Tottenham and Liverpool earlier this summer but, after the Saints agreed to pay what is being reported as a record fee of €15m for the 21-year-old, he now looks to be heading to the South Coast.
Ramirez, who featured for Uruguay at the London Olympics, will travel to England to conclude the deal, according to Sky Sports.
Fresh from losing captain Robin van Persie to Manchester United, Arsene Wenger has admitted that Cameroon midfielder Alex Song could also be on his way out the door.
La Liga giants Barcelona are hoping to bring in the 24-year-old and the Gunners boss attempted to play down the negative effect his exit would have by name-checking the seven other midfield options he has at his disposal.
Just today we have six or seven midfielders available, plus (Jack) Wilshere and (Emmanuel) Frimpong who are coming back. (Abou) Diaby is available again, (Mikel) Arteta, (Santi) Cazorla, (Aaron) Ramsey, (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain now plays central midfield – this is an area we have much more freedom to make decisions,” the Daily Mail report the Frenchman as saying.
Going?
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has been attempting to add some much-needed firepower to his attack and has turned to Jermain Defoe and Kenwyne Jones.
Spurs forward Defoe, who scored a belter for England in their win over Italy in midweek, didn’t have the best of times last season and Jones could also be enticed to make the switch if Stoke were willing to sell.
According to the BBC, Lambert is waiting to hear back on their availability.
Chelsea are in the market for the right full-back and have been linked with Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta for awhile now. That deal could finally materialise after representatives for the Marseille player travelled to London today to discuss a move.
The French side are also in the middle of doing a bit of business with QPR and it looks like the suspended Joey Barton may be joining them with defender Stephane M’Bia going in the opposite direction.
Going?
In other news, free agent Jose Bosingwa, who was released by Chelsea during the summer to QPR on a free is close to joining the Rs on a free transfer while Andre Villas-Boas could is looking to link up with Portuguese compatriot Raul Meireles for a THIRD time.
The Spurs manager is finding it difficult to find a replacement for Luka Modric, who is getting closer to joining Real Madrid, and may return to his old club to enquire about the 29-year-old.
GONE!
Credit: LFC
Finally, Oussama Assaidi’s move from Heereveen to Liverpool has been completed after the Moroccan successfully came through a medical today. Midway through the check-up, club captain Steven Gerrard popped in to welcome the winger to Merseyside.
