Russell Martin prefers playing possession football that a pressing game, but next season he might be playing a Prassing game after the latest rumours coming out of mainline Europe.

The player said to be in Saints sights along with Bologna & Atalanta according to football-italia.net is Sturm Graz left-sided wingback Alexander Prass.

The 23 year has played 90 games in the Austrian Bundesliga since joining in 2021, he has notched 10 goals and 16 assists.

Add to that 23 games in European competition as well as a few more in the domestic cups in Austria and he has a fir bit of experience.

He made his debut for Austria in November 2022 and played in all four games played by his country at the Euro's this summer, he didn't score but did have an assist in each of the wins over Poland & the Netherlands.

With two years left on his contract Sturm Graz and the player have decisions to make, the asking price is said to be around £10-12 million including performance related add ons.

At that price it could well be of interest to Southampton, who tend to do their best transfer business when they find up and coming players who are under the radar and in the £12-15 million bracket, for some reason when we go over that level of transfer fee, we seem to find players who don't quite work out.

Photo: Action Images

Bazza added 10:24 - Aug 5 Where’s the new goalkeeper?
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Crispinmumbles added 11:31 - Aug 5 Are we going to field a team of left-backs?
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dellboysaint added 11:55 - Aug 5 McCarthy can play left back……anywhere but in goal please.
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JoeEgg added 12:16 - Aug 5 Its too early - JUST - to give up on next season. I guess we dont know what is going on behind the scenes but if this is going to be the year of the McCarthy's, Manning's and Stephens, then we are in deep deep trouble. Presumably Manning will next be tried out as our new goalkeeper and Captain Jack will lead the attack. Please tell me this isn't true!
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allsaint54 added 12:54 - Aug 5 Am I one of the few who are getting more than a little bit concerned about the state & quality of our squad as we approach the start of the season with 2 friendlies to go & you can see the likely starting line up. Offensively is a major concern. We have lost Che, Stu, Wee Man, Brooksie & replaced them with Diaz, Lalana, Charley(back from loan). With Lalana injured, yet to play, Ross permanently injured, we have Mara as back up striker. Rumour has it he hit a barn door in training, but it is just a rumour so he probably missed. Admittedly we have 2 youngsters impressing but will RM trust them in the PL, I doubt it. Starting with Jack as captain & playing him in midfield beggars belief. So if Charles leaves it leaves Jack or Manning as back up for Downes!! Defensively we’ve increased numbers but not necessarily in quality. Why has KWP not played a single minute yet, can only assume he's leaving even if not to WHU. As for watching McCarthy try to play from the back so is a disaster waiting to happen. It looks like Lis is returning to Turkey on loan so the goalkeeper options are even more threadbare. Perhaps the next couple of weeks will see some major improvements, we can but dream.

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JoeEgg added 13:49 - Aug 5 allsaint54 - you h
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JoeEgg added 13:52 - Aug 5 allsaint 54 you have summer up the current situation very well - and we've been here before! I just hope there is activity behind the scenes because we are in deep trouble if there isn't; Nightmare scenario - Pompey get promoted again and we get relegated!
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