Ronald Koeman made his second signing of the week as he returned to Feyenoord to bring Italina forward Graziano Pelle to St Mary's.

I have been saying since the departure of Mauricio Pochettino that with departures inevitable it doesn't matter who goes it is now all about who comes in and Ronald Koeman has shown that he knows just that as he makes the second of his signings this week.

Pelle was mooted for a move to Saints from the first moments of Koeman's reign so it is not a surprise to any Saints fan that he is now a Saints player.

The fee is undisclosed but is believed to be around the £8 million mark, this being the case it has to be said that the club have done a great bit of business here in the respect that they have offloaded Rickie Lambert for £4.5 million and replaced him with a younger player meaning that effectively it has only cost them a total outlay of around £3.5 million to do so, this is the type of dealing that a well run football club will be looking to do.

A few weeks ago the doom and gloom merchants were predicting the worst for Saints, but the reality is that we have a lot of money to spend, a great manager to do it and we have now replaced two out of the three departures so far.

Of course there is still a bit of choppy water ahead, but Koeman has now shown that the club has ambition and that there is every likelihood that the squad next season will be stronger than the one under Pochettino.

So welcome Graziano Pelle to St Mary's your goal record of 55 in just 66 matches for Feyenoord is outstanding if you can repeat some of that form for Saints then next season should be an exciting one.

Photo: Action Images

GeordieSaint added 11:28 - Jul 13 Love his intense comb over!!!
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Rednose added 11:33 - Jul 13 It's clear for all to see now that KL and her Management Team have got everything in hand now. With NC leaving and MP making noises that he was off if NC went, she obviously needed time to sort things out. And hasn't she done well? Personally I think she's brilliant, there at every game, quiet and dignified and going about business fantastically, even ignoring the gutter press and their nasty offensive comments. The Fcukwits. Sorry off me soap box now. Interesting to hear RK say on Friday that in Holland they're used to rebuilding teams each year. His quiet understatement of the situation is strangely re-assuring and I have no doubt we will be in for more surprises in the coming weeks, but nothing to be fearful of, because we're in good hands in all departments now. Loving the new strips and the sponsor, using the name of one of their camera's cos it's looks better on the shirt was a nice touch. It just feels everybody is pulling in the same direction now. Hopefully RK and the new players will experience the magic of the Saints fans in full voice sooner rather than later. Nothing is more passion stirring then when the Southampton faithful are one voice singing 'when the Saints go marching in', fast or slow doesn't matter, cos we're the Saints and now back on the March!

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stalbansaint added 12:11 - Jul 13 Spot on Red Nose
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aceofthebase added 18:35 - Jul 13 Wish I had written that Red Nose. Correct in every department.
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BoondockSaint added 19:47 - Jul 13 Come On You Rednose! Well said!
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NewburySaint added 08:16 - Jul 14 Great post Rednose. But going back to Pelle, this is a poor signing and being someone that has seem him play outside of Holland i will be amazed if he gets to double figures in the Premiership. We need a striker(s) that can score 10-15-20 goals a season, not somebody that will only notch single figures.
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