Saints appear to have beaten off a late challenge from Everton for the signature of Mislav Oršić the Croatian international from Dynamo Zagreb. full details here.

Saints have made their first signing of the January transfer window and how we could have done with him on Wednesday night against Nottingham Forest, in the person of Mislav Oršić .

The winger has joined on a 2 1/2 year contract and having turned 30 last week dispels the notions amongst some Saints supporters that the club's owners will only sign young players who they will be able to turn a profit on going forward.

OrÅ¡ić played a full part in Croatia's path to the semi finals of the recent World Cup, n the quarter-final against Brazil, OrÅ¡ić provided Bruno Petković with the assist for Croatia's extra time equaliser, taking the match to a penalty shootout. OrÅ¡ić would score his penalty in the shootout, the final Croatian spot-kick before Marquinhos' miss, which sent Croatia to the semi-finals for the second consecutive World Cup. OrÅ¡ić then scored the winning goal in the third place play-off against Morocco, which ended 2—1.

He has been at Dinamo Zagreb for the last four-and-a-half-years spell helping them win the top-flight HNL title in each of the past four years, while also becoming their leading European scorer of all time, with 28 goals across the Champions League and Europa League.

In total, Oršić made 216 appearances during his time with Dinamo Zagreb, scoring at a remarkable rate, with 91 goals for the club.

Southampton manager Nathan Jones said:

“Mislav is a significant addition to our squad and I’m delighted we have been able to get him in so quickly this month.

“He’s a serious attacking threat and I’m sure anyone who has followed his progress or saw what he achieved at the World Cup will realise the talent he has. We’re excited to have him here.”

Mislav Oršić said:

“I feel very happy to be here, I think it’s a dream for every football player to come to play in the Premier League and I’m here, I’m ready, I’m motivated and I hope that I will help the team to achieve their goals.

“When I come here to the camp, it’s amazing, and I’m sure I will really enjoy my time here. Now it’s a little bit of a difficult situation for the club, but I think we need to stay together. We have only one plan — everybody to stay in the Premier League. We need to work hard every day and I hope that at the end of the year we will be happy.”

Photo: Action Images

mushinexile added 18:45 - Jan 6 Good luck to him. Let's hope he has the time of his life with us and scores lots of goals.
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felly1 added 19:02 - Jan 6 Good news, best of luck Mislav. Come and be our saviour please!
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UgandaSaint added 19:06 - Jan 6 Good interview with Orsic on Saints website, his Ebglish is easier to understand than Nathan Jones.
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ItchenNorth added 19:15 - Jan 6 Great bit of business. Much-needed experience and at the highest level, scoring Champions League, Europa League and World Cup level goals. Croatia's have a great work ethic and football head. Just like we need to see Duje Caleta-Car in the starting lineup more as well. If you play a back 3, it's Car not Lyanco that hold the middle. Good signing this. Hopefully we add another striker as well this window as well and then, play a different shape.

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DellBoyWally added 19:49 - Jan 6 First signing by SR where we don't need to ask "why?" 14 goals a season (well, 7 this one) so all we need is a big striker to knock the long balls down to him. Maybe he can also put chances on a plate for CheA, AdamA, Aribo Edozie and Mara.
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YosemiteSaint added 19:58 - Jan 6 Good news, although this is still the script of a relegation-bound team: twiddle thumbs for much of the year, sign unproven players and managers, gradually drop down the table, panic buy established players whose allegiance could (understandably) be questionable in January. Here's hoping the table looks a bit different by the end of the month.
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GRIM added 20:43 - Jan 6 Hopefully will add that bit of quality we need going forward, a very positive signing. But it should have happened back in August. It might be too late to save us this season. Also we need an experienced ctr back + creative midfielder + another striker. Am I asking too much.
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A1079 added 20:55 - Jan 6 In a period when so much has seemed so wrong and bad in our club this signing actually feels right. I just hope it is and it injects some sort of belief and fight in the team even if ultimately it turns out to be too little too late.
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landsdownsaint added 21:55 - Jan 6 Hopefully the plan was too play “ hoofball” till this guy arrives & now we’re gonna go back & get the ball on the deck passing through midfield?
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A_Saint_in_Stoke added 00:36 - Jan 7 Too much gloom & doom from you lot -- YES our team let's face it -- OUR TEAM HAVE BEEN - Bloody awful , mistake after mistake gifting goal after goal.... and the same old - same old from our strickers .... in danger of rather hitting the corner flag and row Z , than actually scoring and i'm as frustrated than most! But what good does moaning do? Yes it will not be easy at all -- BUT, and it's a BIG BUT -- half the season is still left to play AND we are NOT cast adrift at the bottom, within 4 games we could be in MID TABLE SO LET US ALL get behind Nathan ( Just look at the turn around that he managed with Luton .... yes i know lower league standards ... but discipline/man management and hard work apply to all leagues --- he made things happen over time. ) THE BOARD is backing him with the signing of a world class proven midfielder that scores goals , with others being lined up to join the fight! Guys , we also have a very young side -- I love JWP , but he is not vocal enough when matches are in progress .... Get us a leader ( I cannot see one in the team at present ) WITH a bloody big BOOMING VOICE TO ORGANISE EVERYONE on the field , and I am certain and have the faith that we will stay in the Premiership .... SO COME ON --- LET US GET BEHIND OUR SAINTS.

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mattlegod added 08:55 - Jan 7 Couldn't agree more with Stoke in Saint, I have my concerns with Jones appointment but getting on his back this early in his tenure and not yet having got half way through the season is a sure fire way of demoralising the squad and making things worse. It's difficult, but with this signing and the gossip coming out about a director of football it sounds like the owners recognise there is an immediate problem and despite sticking with their strategy they understand some additional support is needed, both on and off the pitch?

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JoeEgg added 10:32 - Jan 7 At last the problems concerning scoring goals are being tackled. To start the season with the worst strike force in the League and a midfield totally incapable of hitting any target (JWP from set pieces being the exception) was ridiculous and both the Board and RH have to take joint responsibility for that. There appear to be more experienced and successful forward players in the pipeline and there's no denying how the confidence of the whole team can be raised when the team starts scoring goals! We will continue to leak a few goals - we have a very inexperienced keeper and Defenders who lack composure and consistentcy. But this was always going to be the case if you buy in young inexpereineced players - they will need time. To balance these defensive concerns you need a dynamic and effective midfield and a few 'Danny Ings' types up front. Why it has taken so long to realise this fact is beyond comprehension. Maybe at last the right solutions are being found and can be kept fit for the next two crucial months!

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saintpete01 added 11:13 - Jan 7 Under the Radar signing 👍
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SaintPaulVW added 18:18 - Jan 7 Sort of player we need. Adams and Arma both need a cool head around them. We seem to be going from a French foreign legion to a Croatian one.
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KriSaint added 14:15 - Jan 11 Stunning signing. He is a very good player. Maye a bit of a strange club career for some seasons but who cares. Welcome Mislav Orsic <3
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