You know when the media has lost the plot when they start putting out stories of the nature of the latest transfer rumours about Pelle.

Let's get the first thing straight, I like Graziano Pelle as a player, I would go slightly further than that, I almost love him !

Since his arrival two summers ago to fill the boots of Rickie Lambert he has fulfilled that task very well and has proved a bargain signing for £8 million pounds starting 60 Premier League games plus a further 8 off the bench and scoring 23 goals in that time, none being penalties of free kicks.

Despite the criticism of some sections of the Saints support he has been excellent, but every player has his value to the team and in Saints strategy he is at time in his career where the club has to consider it's options.

That strategy says that whn a player reaches a certain age, his re slae value starts to drop and you have to look at moving the player on.

That was the case when Pelle arrived, we got £3.5 million for Rickie Lambert who at 32 was at that critical point and bought in Pelle a younger version with Lambert's sale to Liverpool funding half of his transfer fee.

Now comes the time to consider the same with Pelle, he will turn 32 next month and is said to be considering his options and so are Saints, although the club would like to see him stay he is entering the last year of his contract and he needs to sign an extension or move on.

Moving on seems to be a real attraction when you read the transfer fee that the media are quoting he will leave for.

Starting bid seems to be from Juventus who according to reports are willing to pay nine million for his services, that is in Euros and not pounds, but its still around £7.25 million and that is very good money.

The English media are also on the case, they are saying that Everton and Stoke are keen on the Italian, they are quoting a potential transfer fee in pounds and their headlines scream £9 million, a fee that Saints would surely snatch their hands off if offered.

Everton don't have a manager at present, so they have either gone mad or are acting on the instructions of Ronald Koeman, either way it is hardly an incoming transfer that will excite the Goodion faithful, indeed with Moshiri making a statement about is arrival at Everton with the transfer kitty being handed out, spending a big chunk on a 32 year old striker who will not have much of a re sale value in a couple of years time , is not good business.

Saints for their part have plenty of options already at the club to replace Pelle, Charlie Austin would be the obvious choice when fit, but Jay Rodriguez can also play as an out and out striker, with other options being to play Shane Long in the role as he has done so well in the latter part of the season, or a revamped formation with Sadio Mane at the front.

Either way this seems to be a no brainer for Saints, get a big fee in that can help towards sign more players to strengthen the squad and in doing so increase not only the depth, but the quality.

Photo: Action Images

squidofdespair added 08:45 - Jun 10 much better Nick. You were doing well until that last paragraph. But we can work on that. 6/10. You're dead right about Pelle though.
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kenis added 08:54 - Jun 10 We should operate a policy of not selling to our rivals, unless the fee is 2x or 3x our valuation and we have direct replacements already signed. So that would mean bar a (current and/or regular) champions league team, we shouldn't be selling to others in the prem, and even those should be resisted unless contract lengths force us to. So for Pelle that means the price to anyone who finished below us last season should be £15m+, a club overseas, £8m starting price, champions league prem team, maybe £10m+.He's a proven top quality striker and full international the only reason he's not £30m in today's market is he's over 31.

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Jesus_02 added 09:12 - Jun 10 Pelle out / Benteke in would work for me
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Stevebish added 09:53 - Jun 10 I 100% agree and think Benteke would be an upgrade and the right type of striker for us
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SanMarco added 11:15 - Jun 10 Although, as others have said under other articles: who in the hell is making any of these decisions? Power vacuums at the top are rarely good for any organisation - Koeman needs to sign so we can get a replacement and then worry about all of the above.
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saintmark1976 added 12:31 - Jun 10 Nick, we will have to agree to disagree in regard to Pelle. I think that he is an asset rather than a liability and would suggest that now is not the time to consider selling him. Particularly given that it is quite possible that Pelle may be just the type of player that the next manager wants.Who knows, bearing in mind that we do not even have a manager at the moment? What I would take issue with you is your constant references to us having options in the forwards. With respect, have you lost sight of the fact that neither Jay Rod or Austin managed to complete a full game last season? What evidence is there that either,let alone both will shake off injuries which have hampered them for months? Not much in my opinion,although I hope I am wrong.

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larry12 added 12:35 - Jun 10 Any time Pelle didn't play Saints played 4000 times better, FACTish, ergo Pelle was shiite and good riddance. Les Reed wants cheap, yes man, Moyes and is pretending he is after "proper" potential managers, so brace yourselves. Reed has got to go!
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CampionSaint added 13:05 - Jun 10 Nick, you've made him a bit older than he is. He's 30 now turning 31 next month not 32.
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corkcitysaint added 19:42 - Jun 10 Depending on the managerial situation, in a few weeks we could find ourselves without Pelle, Long and Mane.. Pelle because whilst I would be a fan of his , at that money, it would be foolish to turn down. Football is a business now after all. Long & Mane because agents and "bigger" clubs smell blood in the water now with the disturbance in the management situation. That leaves Austin & J-Rod who both have injury issues..

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SaintBrock added 14:02 - Jun 11 No way will we let Pelle go before January as both Jay and Charlie still have to prove that they are not injury prone lame ducks. Don't be surprised if Jay is released in January if still not match fit and sharp.
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