The media this morning is reporting that Saints are about to launch a bid for Leon Goretzka from Schalke.

Various media websites are reporting that the 20 year old midfielder is interesting Saints. www.metro.co.uk are one of the sites picking up on the story and are claiming that an £11.2 million bid will soon be forthcoming.

Metro.co.uk are correct when they state we have money to burn but the reality is that another midfielder is not a priority area at present, described as a box to box midfielder Goretzka can play either as a defensive midfielder or out wide but also as a playmaker and this is where there could be some truth in the rumour as that would certainly suit Saints who these days look for players who can play in more than one position.

However after an impressive first season with Schalke where he helped them qualify for the Champions League a muscle injury meant he barely played in season 2014/15.

He was named in the preliminary squad for Germany in the 2014 World Cup Finals but so ar has only 1 cap for his country, although that is sure to change once he starts playing on a regular basis again.

Goretzka is under contract to the German club till 2018 so they are under no pressure to sell in terms of length of contract, however a good offer might persuade them to part wih the player

Photo: Action Images

Consigliere added 09:37 - Aug 4 I strongly recommend all fans to go to today's Guardian website where there is an article on Southampton Football Club - don't bother with the article itself, just spool down to the blog section and read the contribution from Consortium. He starts off by explaining the battles of Hannibal (he of the elephants) but stick with it because its a magnificent read and probably the most entertaining, informative and well-written contribution I have ever read about the Saints. We need him on this site. I would have copied and pasted his work but frankly there is so much of it I didn't think that there was enough room on my clipboard!

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IWOZTHERE added 09:40 - Aug 4 This is a 'bolt out of the blue?' Excellent if he's that good, but a bit out of character for Saints......? Big fee and not Dutch to start with! We (perhaps) missed out on Alderweireld and may be putting the Van Dijk deal at risk by being circumspect, yet suddenly 'we've got cash to burn!' I'd be amazed......(let's hope so).
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Zambucco added 10:11 - Aug 4 Consigliere I've seen the article but the post is only 5 lines long? Yes it starts out with Hannibal and that's where it ends? I was looking for ward to reading it!
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Zambucco added 10:13 - Aug 4 Consigliere, I've found after following the link to his profile, wow you're correct it is a tome!
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DPeps added 12:50 - Aug 4 The Alderweireld transfer saga could be compared to the siege at Troy...
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BoondockSaint added 13:25 - Aug 4 DPeps-You mean Toby is a Trojan Horse that will destroy Spurs from within? It won't be the first time we did this-remember the Wooden Lovern we set the Scouse last year?
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DPeps added 13:50 - Aug 4 Boondock - yeah, that's what I'm thinking. Roll on the start of the PL season and regular football matches to discuss
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SaintBrock added 14:28 - Aug 4 We still have 27 days of this nonsense to suffer. Pass me the Paracetamol!
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Zambucco added 16:02 - Aug 4 I had a bit too much time on my hands and I've cut and pasted the comments from the Guardian by Consortium11 article that Consigliere mentioned earlier. I hope they are in order, here is the link https://www.evernote.com/shard/s26/sh/3cef30e1-c2f6-437a-b6d2-501721b31f5a/0944f (yes it is rather long) it also includes a link to the original Guardian article, well worth a read. Plus the video stars our one and omly St. Nick

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SaintBrock added 17:51 - Aug 4 Zambucco old pal did you actually read all that guff without dozing off. I knew all about hannibal from History lessons but the Saints stuff, oh dear.
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