According to several media sources this morning Ronald Koeman is bidding for an alternative to Celtic's Virgil Van Dijk.

With the Virgil Van Dijk saga looking set to run for another fortnight unless Celtic relent and release him before their Champions League fate is known, it seems that Saints manager Ronald Koeman is looking at his other options and one of those alternatives could be Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly if the Italian press is to be beleived.

Saints are being reported as lodging a £8.5 million bid for Koulibaly and they think that they can get him for less than Van Dijk.

Now how serious this bid is, is another matter and it could be somebody, either Saints or perhaps the players agent putting this rumour out to try and force Celtic into a corner and bring the move forward.

Koulibaly who is 6ft 5 inches and 24 years old joined Napoli from Genk last summer and made 27 SerieA appearances for Napoli last term, prior to that he played 64 league games in Belgium for Genk and 41 for Metz in his native France.

He has not won full International honours for France although he has played for the U20 side, like Van Dijk he fits the bill of what Saints look for in a player, young enough to be able to mould into the Saints way of things, but old enough to have enough experience that he can be plunged straight into the first team.

Kalidou Koulibaly has been linked with Saints earlier in the summer, the question is if this is a serious bid, merely a journalist trying to make up a story or two or an attempt to force Celtic to release Van Dijk earlier thn they seem keen to.

Photo: Action Images

patred added 10:29 - Aug 13 Saints sending a message to Celtic and VvD not to muck about ... There are other alternatives ????
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Jesus_02 added 12:06 - Aug 13 Might not be a VVD alternative. Villa and Everton are in for Fonte
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DPeps added 12:18 - Aug 13 Mmm, Sky are reporting Villa talks over signing Fonte. I'd considered the possibility of Fonte leaving this summer but can't think why he'd go to Villa. Everton maybe... but he's made such a big thing about playing in Europe. Perhaps we want to cash in on him when he's at his peak, but that's risky.
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Rednose added 12:24 - Aug 13 Could also be Fonte himself? at 31/32 this could be one last, relatively, big pay day for him. Would be a sad lose for us and perhaps for him taking into consideration that of late good players for us haven't gone on to do the same elsewhere. Nick get the blood hounds and the magnifying glass out mate and try and find out what's going on please. Don't like this type of disruption before a big game on Saturday.

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saint22 added 12:53 - Aug 13 Maybe it's as well as VvD if fonte is off???
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bstokesaint added 13:17 - Aug 13 I really couldn't see Fonte going to eaither Villa or Everton. Neither could be considered a progressive move for him. He doesn't strike me as a player just in it for the cash.
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BoondockSaint added 14:19 - Aug 13 Why would he move sideways/down? I'd hate to lose him as he has been Mr. Saint the last few years. But yes, he might want a big late career payday and Champions League-So that rules out anyone but the Big Four. Ah, being a Saints supporter-every day you come to this site and have something new to worry about!
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DPeps added 14:34 - Aug 13 Koeman has just said there's 'no way' he'd sell Fonte
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SaintBrock added 19:46 - Aug 13 If we can't get VVD at least Les can say we always had other options. This won't threaten VVD at all, he has plenty of suitors and maybe before not too long LVG will come a knocking'.
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Zambucco added 23:39 - Aug 13 This guy can also play defensive midfield, could you imagine him playing alongside Big Vic? Then have Fonte and VVD behind them, or if not Fonte then Caulker. I really don't think we have much to worry about #WeMarchOn
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