There is something about Saints transfer rumours, every player we are linked with also seems to be linked with Stoke City and Everton and this is again the case with the latest rumour.

Saints are being linked with Feyenoord defender Terence Kongolo and it is not surprising, given that he gave him his début for the Dutch club that Ronald Koeman is also linked with a move for the central defender.

Mongols didn't play much under Koeman though, only playing 23 Eridivisie games under Koeman's reign at Feyenoord, 17 of those being in the second half of Koeman's last season, however given that Kongolo only turned 22 back in February that is not surprising.

Now Saints are in pursuit of the 6ft 2in defender and according to the Daily Mail are looking at him as a replacement for Virgil Van Dijk who Everton are pursuing despite the Dutch defender having only just signed a long term deal at Saints.

Of courtse Koeman would love to have Van Dijk, but Saints are in a strong position and the driving seat and are in no hurry to sell.

For Everton Kongolo will be a fall back option whilst for Saints it will be a case of bringing him in as competition for José Fonte and that could swing the deal in Everton's favour.

Kongolo whose younger brother is at Manchester City has already been capped twice by the Netherlands and played in the 2014 World Cup finals and a fee of £10 million is being quoted.

Stoke City are also being touted as being interested in the player and it seems to be that they are being linked with every signing Saints are, West Ham as well for that matter, suggesting that all three clubs are employing the same Agents in finding players in Europe.

In the case of Kongolo it seems that Stoke will be at a disadvantage, they cannot offer the Koeman connection or big money of Everton, nor can they offer the potential, money nor European competition of Saints, so could struggle to persuade the Dutch central defender that the Potteries is the place to be.

Photo: Action Images

SanMarco added 09:20 - Jul 15 So Saints "are in no hurry to sell" VVD. I think a lot of us would prefer "will not sell". If a very big offer does come in from Everton it will be a pivotal moment for how we and others view our club. If we "cash in", and let's face it that's what we usually do, then it would be a terminal blow to any idea that we are making progress and would leave me wondering "what is the point?". It would confirm the SFC psysche as being deeply embedded in "cash in". Of course it may not happen and "are in no hurry to sell" does not necessarily imply "might sell" but being a summer bedwetter I have long expected a VVD bid and await developments...

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SonicBoom added 09:49 - Jul 15 I don't see VvD leaving at all. Just signed a long term contract on improved terms no doubt. That would put his price through the roof. Every player has his price. Would we sell him for 5 million? Course not. Would we sell him for one billion? Course we would. So somewhere between the two there is a price. However at the moment that price would be extremely high and Everton will no doubt find better value elsewhere.

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FrankSaint added 09:55 - Jul 15 Here's hoping Hojbjerg turns out to be Bayern Munich's Pogba... allowed to leave for lack of short term opportunity ;-) but then maybe Guardiola would have come in for him... maybe no room at City either.
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BUCK added 10:24 - Jul 15 Virgils not going anywhere for a long time. We may be labeled a selling club but I don't think saints would sell virgil for anything less than 50 million. I don't agree with this. Sorry but les reeds 5 year plan seems to be starting as of this season, hence the 5 year contracts being handed out. This has NEVER been the case for saints. Onwards and upwards to the next rumour

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SanMarco added 10:28 - Jul 15 I hope you are right Sonic - given our recent history/"cash in" psyche though, a figure a wee bit less than a billion that represented a "healthy profit" would be very tempting for the bean counters even if it was a disastrous decision in footballing terms.
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pintsizedsaint added 10:53 - Jul 15 "According to the Daily Mail..." Enough said! I very much doubt VVD is leaving - let alone to Everton. This smells of lazy journalism with a hint of nastiness from the paper towards the club. Stranger things have happened and nothing is certain in football - but I would be very surprised if Saints sold him.
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ChristchurchSaint added 11:51 - Jul 15 Totally agree pint sized, the Mail has had a downer on us from when NC's mate Ashton was there. Although he has gone, they still carry on with the snidy comments. It comes down to the adage of "How dare a club like SFC think that they can mix it with the big boys" (and that includes the likes of WH these days in their poor opinion). On the Kongolo front, I seem to recall we were linked with him before we signed VVD.

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BaselSaint added 12:28 - Jul 15 "According to the Daily Mail..." = "According to a bloke down the pub..."
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GeordieSaint added 13:07 - Jul 15 Mongols didn't play much under Koeman????? That has cheered me up no end
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bstokesaint added 13:52 - Jul 15 I'm not sure Bertrand would have signed a new deal if he thought his team-mates were unsettled. Smacks of BS to me.
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saintandy11 added 15:42 - Jul 15 An angle to add to the piece. Maybe he could be looking at linking up with VVD to forge a rock hard partnership for their national team, it was one of the reasons alderweireld gave when asked why he went to spuds over us.
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Big_T added 00:29 - Jul 16 According to the Daily Mail " Southampton are selling Højbjerg to Everton for £7m as he is in the last five years of his contract and can leave in four summers time on a free" Grow up BS journo carp!
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TeamCortese added 07:15 - Jul 16 I think he would be a good squad player with the view of being a long-term replacement for Jose Fonte.
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abingdonsaint added 09:09 - Jul 16 Don't think there is any chance of selling VVD, as we are NOT a 'selling club', but we are an ambitious, sensible one. If you look at the sales we have made in recent times, they are invariably where the player has refused to extend his contract, and has made clear he will not do so, such as Wanyama and Mane. In those situations, it makes sense to maximise income and reinvest. Leicester are in the same position now with Kante, and they are in the Champions League! Signing VVD long term was a statement, and as such I'm confident that we would reject pretty much any offer at the moment, particularly from Everton! We are no different to any club in many ways when it comes to sales. We are only seen as sellers because of our policy of buying and developing younger players with room for improvement. Our recruitment and coaching is superior to anyone else, so we have more saleable assets. Any other club in the league of our size would sell if they had anyone the biggest clubs wanted to actually buy!

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