Echo Sport
Saints linked with £10m move for Inter Milan star
7:22am Thursday 24th January 2013

REPORTS in Italy have again linked Saints with a move for Inter Milan playmaker Philippe Coutinho.
It has been suggested that the club are considering a bid of about £10m for the 20-year-old Brazilian.
Saints have been regularly linked with the attacking midfielder during the January transfer window.
Those rumours are now increasing after the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as manager at St Mary’s.
Pochettino knows Coutinho well, having had him on loan at Espanyol during the second half of the 2011/12 season.
However, it is Liverpool who have so far been closest to prising him away from the San Siro.
The Reds have been in discussions with Inter over a possible move for the player this month.
Although they have had an £8m offer turned down, it has been suggested that they would be willing to return with an improved bid.
Coutinho’s agent was also quoted as saying earlier this month that Saints’ relegation rivals, Aston Villa, had made an enquiry about the player.
The youngster, who has been capped once by his country, has shown no great desire to leave Inter, though.
Coutinho, who has started just three Serie A games so far this season, has stated that he is keen to remain in Italy and to fight for his place in the side.
However, a strong offer from England could potentially persuade him to move.
Comments(51)
InCortesewetrust
says...
7:38am Thu 24 Jan 13
com/watch?v=MjrHoLXF
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Seedhouse the Unrepentant
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7:50am Thu 24 Jan 13
milton road
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7:51am Thu 24 Jan 13
only1chopper
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7:54am Thu 24 Jan 13
St.Yorkie
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8:02am Thu 24 Jan 13
milton road
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8:06am Thu 24 Jan 13
it is also being stated that MP stated on Spanish radio Esports Cope that he will not be looking to take any player from Espanyol. That there are a lot of other footballers around. Quoted on Talk Talk.
These stories can be checked on BBC website under gossip and basically that is all any of this is.
Seedhouse the Unrepentant
says...
8:18am Thu 24 Jan 13
milton road wrote:I'm not sure if it's gossip, nearly everyone is reporting we have made a bid including the Liverpool News.
Todays Telegraph says he does not want to move to Saints and Inter are ready to take a lower offer from Liverpool who the player may consider though he is not keen to move.
it is also being stated that MP stated on Spanish radio Esports Cope that he will not be looking to take any player from Espanyol. That there are a lot of other footballers around. Quoted on Talk Talk.
These stories can be checked on BBC website under gossip and basically that is all any of this is.
St.Yorkie
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8:24am Thu 24 Jan 13
Anyway if he doesn't want to come - I don't want him here sulking!
I think it's the press making things up again - if he enjoyed his time at Espanyol under Pochettino then he would leap at the chance of moving to The Premier League. At 20-years old he's the right age to be part of the march on Europe!
milton road
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8:27am Thu 24 Jan 13
Its the fact it is being said he has turned down Saints and does not want to come to St Mary's.
Though ours is the preferred bid,.
So it is wait and see.
Also the fact if what MP said on radio is quoted correctly players such as Verdu will not be joining Saints.
milton road
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8:34am Thu 24 Jan 13
Just passing on what I have seen, whether it is right or wrong only the OS will tell us when ready.
yet our fan network seems to pass on the latest gossip ours before the echo get hold of it and often it seems they check our posts to get info lol
Have faith someone will come in before the window closes and agree with the one above who says it could well be a surprise.
rednwhite72
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8:57am Thu 24 Jan 13
St.Yorkie
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9:02am Thu 24 Jan 13
milton road wrote:Are you suggesting Meesi?
Lol seem on a downer don't I lol Just passing on what I have seen, whether it is right or wrong only the OS will tell us when ready. yet our fan network seems to pass on the latest gossip ours before the echo get hold of it and often it seems they check our posts to get info lol Have faith someone will come in before the window closes and agree with the one above who says it could well be a surprise.
Is it Javi or Inesta who has just signed a contract extension?
I am not too worried about any more signings - we have addressed the main problem a new centre back, and Boruc seems to have stepped up to the plate too!
With Lallana coming back, and a re-invigorated Ramirez who looked much more like a £12m player on Monday night, we should be OK.
It's just press speculation I think - not too concerned either way!
SaintMax
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9:13am Thu 24 Jan 13
milton road
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9:18am Thu 24 Jan 13
Also a dynamic midfield player. That can break up the opposition and play make. I think we are light on quality in the squad, once we get past the the first 11 or 12.
Mush On The Beach
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9:38am Thu 24 Jan 13
three halves
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10:01am Thu 24 Jan 13
The figures have to add up and the revenue from merchandise and small crowds are light years away from the big clubs.
J7junctionseven
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10:21am Thu 24 Jan 13
three halves wrote:I think you've got your wires crossed. Cortese is Saints chairman not the skunts and you may possibly be on the wrong site.
If the club want to go forward and compete with the big boys then Cortese will have to spend big which i doubt very much.
The figures have to add up and the revenue from merchandise and small crowds are light years away from the big clubs.
Try the News site and replace Cortese with Birch or PST and the rest of your post would then make sense to the rest of the retards down the road.
COYR FOADP
three halves
says...
10:38am Thu 24 Jan 13
J7junctionseven wrote:You seem confused Poppet.
three halves wrote:I think you've got your wires crossed. Cortese is Saints chairman not the skunts and you may possibly be on the wrong site.
If the club want to go forward and compete with the big boys then Cortese will have to spend big which i doubt very much.
The figures have to add up and the revenue from merchandise and small crowds are light years away from the big clubs.
Try the News site and replace Cortese with Birch or PST and the rest of your post would then make sense to the rest of the retards down the road.
COYR FOADP
SO50 Saint
says...
10:47am Thu 24 Jan 13
10:01am Thu 24 Jan 13
If the club want to go forward and compete with the big boys then Cortese will have to spend big which i doubt very much.
The figures have to add up and the revenue from merchandise and small crowds are light years away from the big clubs.”
Due to the lack of skunts on this site recently I think this is a strong contender for most ridiculous post of the week. You lot are so envious of what we have here and you all know that your kids and grandkids will only have 1 club in Hampshire to support
Dubai-saints89
says...
10:51am Thu 24 Jan 13
St.Yorkie wrote:he was once classed as Brazil's next big thing
The fact that he has worked with Pochettino before may make it a real possibility! There was a rumour on here last night he was having a medical in Barcelona at Espanyols facilities...never heard of him mind - but at £10m must be something special at 20-years old!
CB FRY LIVES
says...
10:57am Thu 24 Jan 13
Former Saints Chairman George Reader was rated as a top referee in Brazil and was the official in charge of the 1950 WORLD CUP final in Brazil.
SOUTHAMPTON AND SAMBA STYLE CARNIVAL FOOTBALL GO HAND IN HAND SO BRING IN COUTINHO.
COYR
three halves
says...
10:58am Thu 24 Jan 13
SO50 Saint wrote:If you have the intelligence which i very much doubt explain why the post is ridiculous.
three halves says...
10:01am Thu 24 Jan 13
If the club want to go forward and compete with the big boys then Cortese will have to spend big which i doubt very much.
The figures have to add up and the revenue from merchandise and small crowds are light years away from the big clubs.”
Due to the lack of skunts on this site recently I think this is a strong contender for most ridiculous post of the week. You lot are so envious of what we have here and you all know that your kids and grandkids will only have 1 club in Hampshire to support
I will be surprised if you do as you appear as confused as the other chap who calls himself J7.
SaintMax
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11:00am Thu 24 Jan 13
three halves wrote:Have to spend big?! NC is far too astute to spend £50m on a Torres or £30m odd on Carol.. is that your idea of spending big?
J7junctionseven wrote:You seem confused Poppet.
three halves wrote:I think you've got your wires crossed. Cortese is Saints chairman not the skunts and you may possibly be on the wrong site.
If the club want to go forward and compete with the big boys then Cortese will have to spend big which i doubt very much.
The figures have to add up and the revenue from merchandise and small crowds are light years away from the big clubs.
Try the News site and replace Cortese with Birch or PST and the rest of your post would then make sense to the rest of the retards down the road.
COYR FOADP
We spent £30m in the summer, already £4m in this window.
Unless your idea of spending big is the £250 per week you pay some of your temps?
SO50 Saint
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11:16am Thu 24 Jan 13
You claim Cortese is not willing to spend money the 12 million for Gaston 7 million for J Rod proves you wrong there as does being linked with Coutinho for 10 million. Granted this may not be Man City, Chelsea big but is a big step in the right direction of where we want to go.
I'm fairly sure the new home shirt has been the best selling home shirt in years and people always want to buy things to do with a premiership club not so much league 1 tho i'm afraid.
As for small crowds well I think 28k for a midweek home match is not bad and Saturday games are sold out. Also you are forgetting about that nice lot of new TV money coming in at the end of the season.
OSPREYSAINT
says...
11:18am Thu 24 Jan 13
three halves wrote:Shush!
J7junctionseven wrote:You seem confused Poppet.
three halves wrote:I think you've got your wires crossed. Cortese is Saints chairman not the skunts and you may possibly be on the wrong site.
If the club want to go forward and compete with the big boys then Cortese will have to spend big which i doubt very much.
The figures have to add up and the revenue from merchandise and small crowds are light years away from the big clubs.
Try the News site and replace Cortese with Birch or PST and the rest of your post would then make sense to the rest of the retards down the road.
COYR FOADP
rednwhite72
says...
11:24am Thu 24 Jan 13
three halves wrote:I think the general concensus is you are getting a little ahead of yourself the ultimate goal is to challenge for the top spots but I think we will run before we can walk, of course NC will not allow SFC to become a cash cow that's the reason markuss appointed him into his position, he knows his job and by all accounts he seems to know what he is doing, before this he handle accounts for billionaires all over Europe. This is progression to an ultimate goal. You can't have the business without the football and vice-versa.
If the club want to go forward and compete with the big boys then Cortese will have to spend big which i doubt very much.
The figures have to add up and the revenue from merchandise and small crowds are light years away from the big clubs.
SaintMax
says...
11:29am Thu 24 Jan 13
OSPREYSAINT wrote:Your right Osprey, why are we biting.. bless her.
three halves wrote:Shush!
J7junctionseven wrote:You seem confused Poppet.
three halves wrote:I think you've got your wires crossed. Cortese is Saints chairman not the skunts and you may possibly be on the wrong site.
If the club want to go forward and compete with the big boys then Cortese will have to spend big which i doubt very much.
The figures have to add up and the revenue from merchandise and small crowds are light years away from the big clubs.
Try the News site and replace Cortese with Birch or PST and the rest of your post would then make sense to the rest of the retards down the road.
COYR FOADP
SO50 Saint
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11:31am Thu 24 Jan 13
SO50 Saint
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11:32am Thu 24 Jan 13
SaintJD
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12:05pm Thu 24 Jan 13
To quote Kevin Keegan, I would love it, just love it, if we bought Maarten Stekelenburg from Roma.
Now that would really show our intentions as a serious, ambitious club.
Dutch international keeper, apparently available for about £5 million.
Imagine the defensive boost that would give us. We can definitely score goals, then we could definitely keep them out.
That would give us a transformed foundation to build from the back - rock solid with Clyne, Forren, Maya, and Shaw across the back (although swap Fonte back in if you prefer).
Courtinho sounds great, but £10 million and a nasty chance of breaking the team unit. Who sits on the bench?
I wouldn't want to see Adam, Punch or Gaston unsettled and we need two defensive midfielders IMO.
Great for the summer if we really do want high quality, expensive players, on the bench, but not now for me.
SaintMax
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12:14pm Thu 24 Jan 13
SO50 Saint wrote:though I think he may like a bit of biting!
*we should not be biting i meant
Mush On The Beach
says...
12:19pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Tell me about it skunt!
I got bills they're multiplying
And I'm losing control
'Cause the lack of fan power you're supplying
It's crucifying
You better shape up 'cause we need your pledge
And our scam is aimed at you
You better shape up, you better pack the park
Dear blue scum you must be true
Nothing left, nothing left for us to do
You're the skunt that we want
You are the skunt we want
Ho, ho, ho skunty
You're the skunt that we want
You are the skunt we want
Ho, ho, ho, the skunt that we need
Oh yes indeed
If you're filled with disaffection
You're too skint a skunt to pay?
Meditate in PST direction (look into my eyes, look into my eyes, not around the eyes, look into my eyes and your under)
Pay your way!!!!
I better pay up, 'cause you need a fan
we need a fan who can keep us egotistically satisfied
I better pay up, if I'm gonna prove
You better prove that our faith is justified
Are you sure? Yes I'm sure down deep inside
You're the skunt that we want
You are the skunt we want
Ho, ho, ho honey
You're the skint skunt that we want!!!
SaintJD
says...
12:40pm Thu 24 Jan 13
three halves
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1:31pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:You really are totally clueless arn't you Poppet?
three halves wrote:You've posted on the Echo when you meant to be skate side. You silly fucktard.
If the club want to go forward and compete with the big boys then Cortese will have to spend big which i doubt very much.
The figures have to add up and the revenue from merchandise and small crowds are light years away from the big clubs.
CB FRY LIVES
says...
1:41pm Thu 24 Jan 13
SaintJD wrote:CHARLIE MORGAN the same age as LUKE SHAW and the way he dived on that ball could be our goalie for the next decade.
I've heard we've just tabled a £15 million bid for that ball boy at Swansea.
THE BRADFORD V SWANSEA final has a few SAINTS connections.RYAN DICKSON is our player on loan at bradford.Adkins didn't even give him a squad number so that boys done good.
SWANSEA of course have NATHAN DYER,GARY MONK and ALAN CURTIS on board.all o9f those 3 did their bit for SAINTS.SO good lock to them all and COYR
lowe esteem
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2:14pm Thu 24 Jan 13
SaintJD wrote:Like trying to get a farmer off a sheep wasn't it?
I've heard we've just tabled a £15 million bid for that ball boy at Swansea.
lowe esteem
says...
2:16pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:Don't think he'll have that much influence on transfers,do you?
The first big test of MP. Reports say we have outbid Liverpool so it's going to come down to MP's powers of persuasion.
SaintJD
says...
2:22pm Thu 24 Jan 13
lowe esteem wrote:Can't believe the papers were saying Hazard left him in tears this morning - that kid was as good an actor as J-Rod or Luis Suarez and judging by his Twitter nonsense I'm sure he couldn't believe his luck. Dream come true for him and expect a few others in the coming weeks.
SaintJD wrote:Like trying to get a farmer off a sheep wasn't it?
I've heard we've just tabled a £15 million bid for that ball boy at Swansea.
Being a ball boy is set to be the new X-Factor. Or maybe 'I'm a Ball Boy, Kick Me Out of Here'.
DisplacedFan
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2:29pm Thu 24 Jan 13
SaintJD wrote:I'd like to get kicked by Kate Upton......and then hang on. There again, my wife would pull a red card on that. Darn!
lowe esteem wrote:Can't believe the papers were saying Hazard left him in tears this morning - that kid was as good an actor as J-Rod or Luis Suarez and judging by his Twitter nonsense I'm sure he couldn't believe his luck. Dream come true for him and expect a few others in the coming weeks.
SaintJD wrote:Like trying to get a farmer off a sheep wasn't it?
I've heard we've just tabled a £15 million bid for that ball boy at Swansea.
Being a ball boy is set to be the new X-Factor. Or maybe 'I'm a Ball Boy, Kick Me Out of Here'.
SaintMax
says...
2:32pm Thu 24 Jan 13
SaintJD wrote:Thats no joke, i hear he is still in intensive care! - little sht.
I've heard we've just tabled a £15 million bid for that ball boy at Swansea.
SaintMax
says...
2:34pm Thu 24 Jan 13
SaintJD wrote:Thats no jnoke, i hear he is still in intensive care! - little sht.
I've heard we've just tabled a £15 million bid for that ball boy at Swansea.
SaintMax
says...
2:34pm Thu 24 Jan 13
lowe esteem wrote:from what I have seen twitted, he is on his way for his LFC medical tomorrow.. though that doesnt mean he will still sign (aka Forren)
Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:Don't think he'll have that much influence on transfers,do you?
The first big test of MP. Reports say we have outbid Liverpool so it's going to come down to MP's powers of persuasion.
OSPREYSAINT
says...
3:03pm Thu 24 Jan 13
three halves wrote:Let us put things in context here Lallana says "The Chairman, Nicola Cortese, has played his part in it. When we go away, the trips are always top-drawer – five-star this and five-star that.
If the club want to go forward and compete with the big boys then Cortese will have to spend big which i doubt very much.
The figures have to add up and the revenue from merchandise and small crowds are light years away from the big clubs.
"We train at the best facilities and eat the best food, so we're well looked-after and that's only going to help us get better."
Well it is better than that run down guest house in Hayling Island and Joes snack bar on the sea front, each to their own.
CB FRY LIVES
says...
3:11pm Thu 24 Jan 13
OSPREYSAINT wrote:Saints 1976 hero BOBBY STOKES ended up running a joes snack bar outside the dockyard so lets have a bit of respect.pretty please.
three halves wrote:Let us put things in context here Lallana says "The Chairman, Nicola Cortese, has played his part in it. When we go away, the trips are always top-drawer – five-star this and five-star that.
If the club want to go forward and compete with the big boys then Cortese will have to spend big which i doubt very much.
The figures have to add up and the revenue from merchandise and small crowds are light years away from the big clubs.
"We train at the best facilities and eat the best food, so we're well looked-after and that's only going to help us get better."
Well it is better than that run down guest house in Hayling Island and Joes snack bar on the sea front, each to their own.
joelster
says...
4:18pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:hahaha hilarious
The first big test of MP. Reports say we have outbid Liverpool so it's going to come down to MP's powers of persuasion.
it seems every time Liverpool is interested in someone we go buy them- love it!
MGRA
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5:15pm Thu 24 Jan 13
joelster wrote:disasterous waste of money if we get him, £10M on a player who does not want to leave Italy.... why the hell would we do that ?
Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:hahaha hilarious
The first big test of MP. Reports say we have outbid Liverpool so it's going to come down to MP's powers of persuasion.
it seems every time Liverpool is interested in someone we go buy them- love it!
techsture
says...
5:37pm Thu 24 Jan 13
**Breaking exclusive**
saint in dordogne
says...
6:48pm Thu 24 Jan 13
techsture wrote:never going to happen
**Breaking exclusive*** Planning permission has been requested for a new 40,000 stadium on the M27 next to Hedge End.
**Breaking exclusive**
OSPREYSAINT
says...
7:14pm Thu 24 Jan 13
MGRA wrote:You have been overdosing on rumour, we would do it because we want some good players for the future, and he is rumoured to be quite good. Until there is something concrete on the OS we can only speculate.
joelster wrote:disasterous waste of money if we get him, £10M on a player who does not want to leave Italy.... why the hell would we do that ?
Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:hahaha hilarious
The first big test of MP. Reports say we have outbid Liverpool so it's going to come down to MP's powers of persuasion.
it seems every time Liverpool is interested in someone we go buy them- love it!
OSPREYSAINT
says...
7:16pm Thu 24 Jan 13
techsture wrote:Why would your team want to come this far west, and it will be years before they catch up!
**Breaking exclusive*** Planning permission has been requested for a new 40,000 stadium on the M27 next to Hedge End.
**Breaking exclusive**
Southampton boy says...
7:30am Thu 24 Jan 13