Saints are linked with several players ahead of Monday's 11pm transfer deadline, but will they land any of them ?

Saints are being linked with a number of players as the transfer window prepares to slam shut with Ronald Koeman saying that he for one will be glad when it has closed as he can the finally prepare his squad with certainty after a couple of months of not knowing who will be there and who wont be.

One person who seems certain to be gone is Saphir Taider who after only three weeks at the club has decided it is not for him, the writing was on the wall when h failed to get on the pitch for any of the first games of the season and with rumours that Koeman was less than impressed with his attitude with the player allegedly demanding assurances of a first team place, perhaps it is for the best he goes now.

His departure however does mean that we will perhaps be looking to sign three players rather than the two positions that Ronald Koeman is stating

Koeman is on record as saying the two positions he is looking to fill are a defender and a winger although this could be a little more than that given Koeman's preference for players who are versatile.

Biggest name Saints are linked with is Red Bull Saltzburg midfielder Sadio Mane with a bid of around £10 million close to landing him according to Sky Sports news, Mane is a Sengalese international and at 22 has already a wealth of experience as well as a goal every other game ratio in the Austrian league.

If that deal fails Saints are also weighing up a move for Norwich winger Nathan Redmond who would be slightly cheaper at around £9 million with Ronald Koeman seeming feeling that he is lacking a bit of pace out wide.

Brek Shea on loan from Stoke could be a fall back option if neither does arrive.

Defensively Toby Alderweireld seems to be edging a little closer after Koeman intimated that the deal would not be done, but according to media reports the player seems to be preferring to St Mary's to Newcastle or Sunderland and he could be a surprise addition to the playing squad.

Virgil Van Dijk looked to be on the cards, but Celtic are adamant that he wont be leaving.

Certainly it looks to be a busy day for Saints with plenty of wheeling and dealing behind the scenes although whether any of them will come off is another matter.

Photo: Action Images

SanMarco added 21:26 - Aug 31 For me the most fascinating thing will be if this rumour that Arsenal have met the £27m for Morgan is true. Would that mean he can go with everyone's face saved? Or would the Board still be breaking their promise?
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nomorerumours added 21:33 - Aug 31 Morgan is not going. The price is irrelevant now. The way he is playing under RonKo, Morgan's value will be over £40m by January. A great all round player who the Saints will do everything they can to keep hold of. Spurs do not have the money and the Arsenal story is a repeat of rumours circulated about 20 times in the last month or so.
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slynch added 21:36 - Aug 31 Does the transfer window ever shut without slamming?
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ExiledSupporter added 21:44 - Aug 31 Sadio Mane...who has ever heard of him, playing in an obscure league, for a lightweight club and commanding a ridiculous price...yep, it must be just another of Reed's wasteful and expensive gambles who RoKo has never seen...how very depressing! Too much reliance on statistics and not enough focus on context, I suggest
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ExiledSupporter added 21:47 - Aug 31 I bet Brek Shea is about as useless as Anthony Pulis! So we may well sign him, thanks again Les!
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montecristo added 22:12 - Aug 31 from where Im standing Ill be glad if we dont sell anyone just dont trust this Board they have lied to us and lied again and treat the fans with utter contempt. Fans pay good money to watch games its not cheap, the club could at least show some ambition instead of selling our best players for phenomenal sums without having any regard at all for the fact that fans want to identify with their stars not see them sold at the first opportunity. I hope I never meet Les Reed, I really do..

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SaintNick added 22:21 - Aug 31 Nothing to do with the fact that all those players wanted to treble their money and play for clubs challenging for honours then
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ItchenNorth added 23:12 - Aug 31 ExiledSupporter; didnt we once sign a player before that we'd never heard of from that very same obscure league (& lightweight club too) who turned out to be a French World Cup international, currently courted by a host of top clubs with a reputed 27mil price tag on his head ! Transfer prices have inflated wildly in 7 years don't forget. Sadio is already an international for a pretty strong African footballing nation so don't right off a player just because you've not heard of him. He could turn out to be better than a certain Spiderman once he too adjusts to English football. I like the sound of Sadio if this deal can be done. Our team lacks goals imo and more threat from midfield to support Pelle should be targeted in this window.

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BoondockSaint added 02:08 - Sep 1 Anyone watch Scouse v Spurs? Townsend proved why so many of us don't want him! Side note: announcers were wondering why Lloris was trying to play it from the back with two attackers on top of him instead of booting it up field. They didn't do their research! One Trick MoPony has only one system! Enjoy the rest of the season Spurs fans!
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BoondockSaint added 02:08 - Sep 1 Anyone watch Scouse v Spurs? Townsend proved why so many of us don't want him! Side note: announcers were wondering why Lloris was trying to play it from the back with two attackers on top of him instead of booting it up field. They didn't do their research! One Trick MoPony has only one system! Enjoy the rest of the season Spurs fans!
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BoondockSaint added 02:09 - Sep 1 Sorry for the double comments lately-damn iPad!
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wazzosan added 03:21 - Sep 1 One trick MoPony....I love it!
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