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Saints Linked With £17 Million Move For New Ossie

Older Saints fans will refer affectionately to Ossie, Peter Osgood. But younger fans will perhaps have a new Ossie to worship, if rumours come to fruition.

Saints are reportably about to make a bid for Roma's Pablo Osvaldo, the 27 year old Argentian born Italian International (confused ? I am !) played for Mauricio Pochettino at Espanyol before a £15 million move to Roma, hence the connection and many in the media putting 2 and 2 together and making £17 million.

Osvaldo is seeking a move due to a spat with his club coach during Roma's Copa Italia Final loss to local rivals Lazio, a shouting match that also saw him dropped from the Italian International squad for both orld Cup qualifyers and the confederations cup tournament.

Last season Osvaldo made 31 appearances for Roma scoring 17 goals.

Osvaldo does have other Saints connections apart from MoPo though, in March 2008 he headed home a cross from Papa Waigo to give Fiorentina a stoppage time win against Juventus and was then sent off for his celebrations.

He does seem an emotional type of player, after joining Roma in August 2011, he settled in quickly, but angry after not receiving a pass from a team mate during a game, he then argued with him and punched him in the face earning a fine and suspension from his club. The latest indiscretion where he shouted at the manager for not giving him more time on the pitch during the cup final seems to be the last straw and both player and club want a parting of the ways.

He seems to have a knack for scoring though, during his time at Espanyol under Pochettino he netted 20 goals in only 44 league games and his two seasons at Roma have seen 27 goals in 54 league games, exactly a goal every other game, a decent total in any top division.

He was capped by Italy at Under 21 level and followed that up in 2011 with full caps, in 11 appearances for the Azzurri he has scored 3 times, but is currently out of the squad due to his latest indiscretion.

Overall he looks a good bet for Saints, at 28 being at the peak of his career, however you dont spent the sort of money needed for a player to sit on a clubs bench, at least not at a club the size of Saints and if we are genuinely after him then it does not bode well for the future of ickie Lambert at the club, whether we landed Osvaldo or not it would signify that we are looking to replace Lambert.          

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