Saints Linked With Giroud
Monday, 11th Dec 2017 14:12

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud broke Saints fans hearts on Saturday, but accoding to media reports he could be looking for a place in them in a few weeks time.

Olivier Giroud has scored 7 times for Arsenal in 22 appearances this season, indeed his late equaliser at St Mary's on Sunday was his 4th Premier League goal in 13 games, however he has yet to start a game in the Premier all season and he is said to be worried that this could cost him a place in France's squad for the 2018 World Cup Finals.

The Express are claiming that Saints are willing to smash the £18 million club transfer record paid out for Mario Lemina to bring the 31 year old to St Mary's and that the player would be open to a move.

Everton are also said to be interested, but the same report says that Giroud rejected a move to Goodison in the summer because he wants to remain in London and that Southampton is near enough to the capital to mean that he would be able to continue living in London and commute to training.

If Giroud was a year or two younger then I would think that this story could have some credence, however it is unlikely that Saints would spend £18 million on a player who is now 31 and would be unlikely to have any real sell on value.

This perhaps suggests that this story is being put about by someone close to the player perhaps his agent to fire some warning shots to Arsene Wenger about the lack of game time Giroud has been getting.

For this deal to happen Arsenal would need to slash their asking price drastically, however with 18 months left on his contract the Gunners may feel that they are happy to run that deal to its conclusion than sell him now unless its a big offer.

If it did happen then that would be a big statement of intent by Saints new major shareholder, but in truth this is just not the sort of deal we would normally be interested in.

Photo: Action Images

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SonicBoom added 14:23 - Dec 11 Surely you don't break your transfer record for a 31 year old. That said, all of our record transfers to date were on the bench yesterday.....
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schatfield added 14:26 - Dec 11 this goes against the saints model of only buying players in their mid to early 20s.....cant see it happening
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BaselSaint added 14:40 - Dec 11 If he's not injury prone the age is not so much an issue. The Gooners call Jack Wilshere 'Wheelchair'
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arthurfane added 15:57 - Dec 11

If they can reduce that asking price to c.Â£15m I'd bite their arm off for him. He's scored reasonably consistently every Premier League season he's played in. Strong in the air and skillful he would be an excellent addition who's already proven at PL level.
I know it goes against the grain a little, but this would be a magnificent signing for the 3 or so years he could give us.

landerwal added 16:05 - Dec 11 It is also rumoured that he would like a loan move which would be a far better option.
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Sanguin added 16:20 - Dec 11 I think heâ€™d be a good signing and a good goal-scoring threat for a season or two before we can find a more long-term solution. I canâ€™t see us paying Â£18m for a 31 year old though. I also canâ€™t see Arsenal selling him, heâ€™s more valuable to them on their bench. A loan move might be good for all sides.
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sidsaint added 16:33 - Dec 11 Class player. Would we be willing to match his wages ?
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patred added 22:32 - Dec 11

oh would this be true, but we are firmly stuck into a firm youth policy at SMS.
And to change this Reed would have to go against everything he preaches here. No matter how suitable this would be for player, manager, and squad.
The youth policy has become a dogmatic principle that Reed has imposed on the club, from a coach that has only seen success at youth level and never at senior level

MySaintedAunt added 14:10 - Dec 12 If the club are serious about stepping up a level then breaking the wage structure is going to have to happen, but not for a 31-year-old who doesn't want to move house.
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