Southampton supporters would have expected the transfer of Ryan Fraser from Newcastle United to have happened weeks ago, yet the situation seems to have reached a stalemate, Russell Martin has spoken out about the situation.
Tyneside media outlet Chronicle Live have been reporting on the Ryan Fraser situation.
They report that Ryan Fraser himself is pushing for the move, but with one year left on his contract, negotiations are proving difficult, earlier in the summer is was reported that Newcastle were keen to get the player off the books to help with Financial Fair Play rules, but they now seem to have changed tactics.
Whether this is the club itself or whether this is to do with manager Eddie Howe who has a well documented feud with Fraser dating back over four years to the time they spent together at Bournemouth and now Howe is reaping a bit of retribution is unclear.
The Chronicle are reporting that Saints boss Russell Martin has had this to say,
"I think we're all hopeful that at some point that will happen. But he's contracted to Newcastle. I think he would love to come back and we would love to keep him.
"Everyone wants him: Me, the fans, the owners, the players and the staff - Wee Man himself, but he is under contract at another club and a good contract.
"It's their prerogative to do what they want with him at the moment and unfortunately for us and for Wee Man, it's not what we want.
"There'll come a time where if a deal can't be done with Newcastle, we're going to have to move on to other people and I think that's a natural thing. So much of football is about timing and there might come a time where it's no longer viable for us or an option. We have to be looking at other people as well."
So it seems there is some sort of hold up and it seems that Russell Martin is insinuating that the issue is now something a little more personal.