What is it with strikers from Italy ? they all seem to have issues that see them want to leave their clubs and they all seem to get linked with Saints.

If Saints opened an office in Italy to process applications from disenfranchised strikers in Italy the queue would snake out the door and wind around the Coliseum.

Perhaps it's the fact that clubs in Italy think that if we were mad enough to take Osvaldo for such an extortionate fee, then we would be stupid enough to take any striker with an attitude.

Anyway the latest name to be linked with Saints is Napoli's Manolo Gabbiadini who wants out of Napoli only 18 months after joining them from Sampdoria in a deal worth around £10 million.

He hasn't overly impressed since the move and in the season just gone found himself used more as a back up, however he still had a decent strike rate and Napoli are quoting around double what they paid for him to any club who are showing an interest.

Described as versatile, Gabbiadini can play a variety of roles including as a central striker, second striker, attacking midfielder or as a winger on either side of the pitch, although he is predominantly a left rooted player he prefers to play on the right and cut inside to hit shots.

His is fairly tall at 6ft 1 and has pace and a positional sense that enables him to not only score goals but create and bring others into play, he is known for his shot and ability at set pieces.

From his profile he seems to be the type of player that Ronald Koeman looks for in his signings and on a plus point his reasons to move seem to be more about getting game time rather than a bad attitude.

Internationally he has six caps for Italy the last one being back in November whn he came off the bench to score his first goal at senior level, however he has not made the provisional 30 man squad for the Euros and it could be that he feels that a lack of game time at Napoli is the reason for this hence the desire to move on.

To me it seems a lot of money for a player who is not getting into his club's team, allegedly we could get Simone Zaza for the same price, however if Napoli take less and I think they might, then I would not be surprised if there is a little more substance in this rumour than others.

According to the press our rivals for his signature are Crystal Palace & Stoke City

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