Sometimes the transfer market is like a game of chess where you have to wait for one move before making your own, that seems to be the case in Saints pursuit of Jordie Clasie.
Clasie has long been linked with Saints with rumours of a bid in January being turned down, however the possible transfer took a step closer with the news that Feyenoord are about to make a bid for his replacement,
The Dutch club are allegedly targeting Marko Vejinovic from Vitesse as Clasie’s replacement, and with his transfer fee needed to be raised, the club are willing to sell Clasie for a lower price rather than hold out for top dollar.
But Saints may not have it all their own way as they go for Clasie with Sunderland also reported as being interested and although you would hope that Saints represent a more attractive option for the player himself, it could push the asking price up.
Saints appear to have a very measured approach to transfers these days, gone is the ego driven approach of the Cortese era when several good signings seemed to be ruined by a marque aquisition that was both overpriced in transfer fee and wages and it is replaced by a focused strategy that involves the manager a little more than in the Cortese days.
The Koeman factor could ultimately be what tips the balance in Jordie Clasie and indeed several other signings