Media sources in Italy are suggesting that Graziano Pelle may leave Southampton and return to his home country to end his career.

Saints problem is that Pelle only has 18 months left on his contract and with it due to expire in the summer of 2017 may have to cash in this summer rather than see him leave for nothing at the end of it.

It will be a tactical move by Saints though, Pelle will turn 31 this summer and if he doesn't sign a new deal then he will leave for Italy sooner than later, Saints will be keen either to secure his services for another 3 years or sell him for a healthy fee whilst he still has value, which despite his great two seasons in the Premier will only now drop due to his age.

The player himself has talked of his desire to return to his home country where he has never made his mark in Serie A with most of his success prior to joining Saints being in Holland.

If Pelle does go this will be no firesale of big names though, it will bear hallmarks of the Rickie Lambert deal where Saints cashed in whilst they still could and used the proceeds to help fund Pelle's aquisition.

That excersise may be repeated and certainly Saints have already been linked with a number of central strikers in Pelle's mode who could replace him.

Juventus and Lazio are being linked with a move and that would interest Pelle who as said would like to not only finish his career in Italy, but finish it with a flourish by finally establishing himself in Serie A

Photo: Action Images

Jesus_02 added 21:37 - Jan 14 so how much do you think we would get for him after 2 season? he cost £8m . Personally I cant see Lazio or Juve shelling out more than £5 on a 31 year old. We might be better leaving his contract to run down then competing with wages from Italy. I'm sure we are competitive there
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1970 added 22:36 - Jan 14 Keeping hold of Pelle we be a very positive thing to do for the club, for the player and for supporter's alike it also sends a good message to other player's that we are not just a bunch of ruthless banker's, I would of liked to have seen Sir Rickie finish his career with us, I would also like to see JWP stay with us for his whole footballing career, I know the boo boy's will say he has not set the world alight and they are right, but it is a very positive thing to do for all our youngster's that make the first team they don't have to be sold, look at the likes of Franny Benali and Dodd they are legends but didn't really do a lot except gave there all right through there career, we need to show other clubs we are special and different we are the Saints 3 points sat please coyr.

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SaintNick added 22:53 - Jan 14 I think Rickie Lambert leaving was the right thing, he left with his reputation intact and without the supporters on his back which means he can return on Saturday and feel the warmth towards him
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ElSanto added 08:24 - Jan 15 Sell Pelle this summer. It's the right move. Use any proceeds towards the future. 5 million plus a year's wages is a lot of money for us. Will always like Graziano, though.
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perazi added 09:21 - Jan 15 Completely agree with ElSanto; would be a smart move to sell in the Summer given his age and remaining contract. I also question the style of game you need to employ with a striker like Pelle. I'm enjoying the quicker movement, counter attack and ball on the ground style we have adopted v Arsenal and Watford.
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IWOZTHERE added 09:47 - Jan 15 Valuable player we'd struggle to replace for 8m although I agree with perazi totally about selling in the summer and that we seem to get bogged down in midfield for some reason when he plays.(Not his fault in my opinion). Whatever happens, get it sorted early !!! No more Wanyama/ Clyne shenanigans, either sign a contract or go.
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TimSaint added 11:43 - Jan 15 Buy Charlie Austin now for 8 mill, he then has 5 months to gel with the team in time for a starting role next season, when Pelle leaves in the summer. Simples.
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bstokesaint added 12:59 - Jan 15 I'm totally with Perazi. I actually think the style we play without Pelle is better. Through no fault of his own the longer ball and hold-up game is not for me. Would rather the pacy counter-attack any day. What's more Pelle seems to constantly get fouled by defenders, which rarely gets punished, meaning the ball often ends up back with the opposing defence/midfield. I agree with Tim Saint that Austin is worth taking a punt on.

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BoondockSaint added 13:26 - Jan 15 Unless the player is a goal keeper, in this league, he's gone at that age. I know there are some good players at that age, but they are never as good as when they where younger. and teams wind up paying them for what they did in the past (usually with another team). A three contract makes him 34. I'm with TimSaint. Get Austin in (which we should have done in the summer) at 8 mill, it's a steal compared to what we have paid for others.

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LordDZLucan added 14:21 - Jan 15 I agree with perazi. We're rather one-dimensional and predictable when we play Pelle. But I don't think we need Austin who to me is another Pelle but younger. I would continue to play Shane Long as centre forward. He is surprisingly good in the air for a smaller guy and can therefore play the Pelle role whilst at the same time giving us other options. I would spend the money on a wide midfielder.

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SaintBrock added 14:31 - Jan 15 Offer Graziano a new contract for three years then we can sell when we want rather than be forced to part with a player who is invaluable to the side right now. He is a big man with a big personality, we need his positivity in the dressing room. Besides which his very presence and automatic selection on the team sheet has turned Shane Long from journeyman to genuine star just through competition for a starting place. That pressure must be kept on to up people's games. He is worth more than money to this team. Mention of Austin in the same breath is absurd, if ever there was a journeyman Austin is it; the last thing we need are country plodders at St Mary's.

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BoondockSaint added 16:36 - Jan 15 SaintBrock, I don't mind a plodder with a nose for goal! He's more clinical than what we are now. According to Wikipedia, and if my sums are right, From season 2010-11 to this season, in the Championship and Premier leagues, he has 86 goals. Shane Long in the same period in the same leagues has only 54. If Long cost 12 mill, then 8 mill is a bargain, plus he's 2 years younger and has a bit of grit about him that our team is lacking right now.

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surreysaint added 17:52 - Jan 15 Agree with SaintBrock on the Pelle front - he seems to be a big figure in the dressing room and is clearly one of the leaders on the pitch - vocal, positive, always striving for more from his teammates. That cannot be underestimated. I like the variety of Pelle or Long - i think it gives RK options which can only be a good thing. Pelle against Man Utd earlier in the season was an absolute target man demonstration - destroyed Blind in a match we should have won. Long showed against Arsenal that intelligent movement and a yard of pace is a great weapon against the best. Austin is a strange one. On the face of it, an 18 goal PL striker, at 26 years old, for £8m (reported) is a no brainer. But how come nobody wants him?!?

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perazi added 20:56 - Jan 15 In-the-know posters elsewhere are claiming Austin is "in-the-bag".
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