It seems that behind the scenes Southampton have been very busy in working at bringing in some incoming signings to the club in the last week of the transfer window, you know a rumour must have substance when the players manager names a club as being interested.

The rumour mill is turning up in the North East and the Shields Gazette has quoted Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe claiming that Southampton are in the mix for the player.

Speaking about Ryan Fraser’s situation, former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe confirmed that Newcastle had received interest from Southampton regarding the winger. Howe said:

“There may be something with Ryan happen regarding Southampton. Apart from that, that’s all I know at the minute.”

Fraser has found himself frozen out since the arrival of Howe on Tyneside, probably nothing to do with his playing ability, but from the time that the player left Bournemouth in the summer of 2020 after running down his contract, when football returned after the lockdown, he refused to play in case he was injured with Howe quoting at the time that he would never play for the club again.

So while the Toon Army celebrated their new found wealth and the appointment of Eddie Howe, there was one man on Tyneside not celebrating.

His time at St James Park has not been one he will look back on with fondness, injuries have hampered him and the rift with Howe has seen him training away from the first team.

Photo: Action Images

Block8 added 10:39 - Aug 25 Not one for me thank you! As you mention he sh*t on Bournemouth when they were really struggling, not one for team spirit, we don't need him and although I wont throw my ST back, there is better, younger and more likeable out there!
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Bowlercow added 11:50 - Aug 25 Leave him on Tyneside We don't need a snake in the dressing room
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Monksway added 12:43 - Aug 25 Really hope this isn't true. Definitely not an adequate replacement for Tella.
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highfield49 added 13:06 - Aug 25 Just like VVD and that Fonte guy who both thought that they were too big for their club. What a couple of snakes. Maybe the biggest problem is Eddie Howe's player management ability? If Fraser comes in on loan and proves to be a match winner, brilliant. If he behaves like a brat then we cancel the loan and lose nothing.
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WestSussexSaint added 13:06 - Aug 25 Sometimes the media reports about players need to be taken with a pinch of salt but other times they are bang on. Russell Martin appears to be creating a really good team spirit so won’t want any disruption to that. I trust RM and Jason Wilcox to have done their homework on Fraser and not just from a footballing perspective.
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saintmark1976 added 13:19 - Aug 25 I do sincerely hope that nothing comes of this. Any professional footballer who refuses to honour his contract by not playing for the club that employs him should immediately have that contract cancelled. It’s not a question of ability, it’s a question of character. In my opinion Ryan Fraser by his alleged previous actions has proven to be not the sort of player that I want to see in a Saints shirt now, or at any time in the future.

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AgrellaSFC added 13:25 - Aug 25 Hopefully his history with Russel Martin helps his attitude. Maybe he's matured since his last game. I enjoyed watching him at Bournemouth when he wanted to play.
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SanMarco added 14:10 - Aug 25 No dancing in the aisles at this news/rumour. I am always a bit wary of reports of 'attitude' problems as players can be unhappy at work just like the rest of us but actually refusing to play is a step too far for me. I don't think even our prima donnas (VVD etc) ever actually formally refused to play, although I suppose behaving in a way that makes it impossible to have you in the dressing room amounts to the same thing. I hope this isn't true but if it is then I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

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SaintPaulVW added 15:41 - Aug 25 Seems like Fraser mucked around and found out when his old boss became his new boss. Luckily as he said at his press conference today Russell Martin has actually played both with and against him. In the circumstances, I think I trust his judgement rather than mine on this one.
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ElSanto added 22:40 - Aug 25 Good signing.
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