Hamburg Ordered To Sell To Saints
According to reports in the German media Hamburg SV have been ordered by one of their investors to sell one of their star players to Saints in order to repay an outstanding loan to them.
Saints & Hamburg have longstanding connections, back in 1980 Saints signed then European Footballer of the year Kevin Keegan from the German club in a deal that would be equivalent to us now signing Gareth Bale from Real Madrid.
We also met them in the 1984/85 UEFA cup losing in Germany after a draw at the Dell.
Now Saints are linked with Hamburg again as they look to be forced to sell players after suffering relegation from the Bundesliga for the first time in their history.
Two years ago Hamburg investor Klaus-Michael Kuhne loaned the club 12 million euros to sign Filip Costic and now after relegation he wants repayment of that loan and according to the German media he has instructed them to sell the player in this transfer window to Saints who have reportably bid 14 million euros.
Hamburg who are keen to keep their squad intact for a swift return to the German top flight are said to be hoping to persuade Kuhne to hold fire but so far he is insistent that Kostic is sold and the loan repaid, Valencia and Sporting Lisbon are also said to be interested.
Kostic who is Hamburg's mos expensive signing can play up front although he is primarily used as a left winger and in 61 Bundesliga appearances for the club has scored 9 times.
He has 26 caps for Serbia and played in all three of their group stage matches at the World Cup.
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