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Southampton Football Club
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Sourced from Sky Sports article

Premier League clubs to discuss bringing transfer deadline forward to before season starts

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Premier League clubs will discuss the proposed introduction of a new summer transfer window that closes before the opening game of next season.

It is understood talks will take place between every club next month about whether to change the deadline of the current window, which closes nearly three weeks after the first game of the season.

Sky Sports News has been told by sources that the “majority” of top-flight clubs currently favour an earlier closure, and the issue could be voted on during their next shareholders’ meeting in September.

At least 14 of the Premier League’s 20 clubs must agree for a new rule to be introduced.

One consideration is whether Premier League clubs will be weaker if the summer window closes in the middle of August.

Clubs from other European leagues, including Spain and Italy, would still be allowed to sign players from England in line with their own domestic deadlines.

It has raised concerns that Premier League sides would be unable to sign reinforcements, or replacements, which could lead to a competitive disadvantage.

But some clubs are understood to believe it would be better for the league’s integrity if none of its teams could add to their squads from the first match of the new season until the January transfer window.

Paul Clement, Swansea City manager, said after Saturday’s draw at Southampton: “Our club would support that decision. The majority of clubs are in favour but maybe all have to be for it to go through. It could happen next year.”

Transfer windows in January would be unaffected as current proposals only relate to the summer months.

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Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article

Chelsea ready to splash £120million on three Premier League stars

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Roman Abramovich is ready to start a £120million Chelsea spending spree with a fresh move for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Chelsea are determined to test Arsenal’s resolve to keep Oxlade-Chamberlain with a £35m bid as they also target Virgil van Dijk and Danny Drinkwater.

Chelsea owner Abramovich seems prepared to back Antonio Conte after the club’s poor start to the campaign following their defeat to Burnley.

But they are ready to try to change the mood and their interest in Oxlade-Chamberlain leaves Arsenal with a dilemma over whether to sell.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has publicly insisted Oxlade-Chamberlain is not for sale despite having only a year left on his contract and the England star has made it clear he is not ready to sign a new deal.

They would not want to lose him to a direct rival but would fear losing him for nothing next summer but Chelsea see him as the perfect signing as he is young and English to boost their home grown quota.

They also want Southampton defender van Dijk even though the South Coast club are insisting privately that he will not be sold at any price.

Liverpool have also been in for van Dijk and the Dutch defender is keen to leave St Mary’s with Chelsea ready to break the bank to get him.

Chelsea are also in for Leicester midfielder Drinkwater having already had a bid of £15m turned down.

They are ready to make a much improved offer to try to pair up Drinkwater with N’Golo Kante which was the midfield partnership which won Leicester the title last year.

Chelsea fully expect to see movement on Drinkwater this week ahead of their showdown with Tottenham next Sunday with Conte desperately short of options after selling Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas is suspended.

Chelsea captain Gary Cahill is now due to serve a three game ban after his sending off leaving Conte short in all departments.

But Chelsea are determined to address the issue quickly and back Conte with a huge spending spree.

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/08/2017 05:11:36

| | TV ! Chinese Takeover Reaction - Southampton NewsTHEUGLYINSIDE |

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

U23 Highlights: Saints 4-0 Reading

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U23 Gallery: Saints 4-0 Reading

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/08/2017 07:12:03

| | Blues want Van DijkCLUBCALL |
| | Tycoon Gao completes Southampton takeover - China.org.cnCHINAORGCN |
| | Southampton complete partnership with Chinese investors Jisheng Gao | Goal.comGOALDOTCOM |
| | Chinese Investors Have Bought A Huge Slice of SouthamptonBALLSIE |

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Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article

Two clubs ‘more likely’ to get Virgil van Dijk than Liverpool

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Virgil van Dijk is more of a chance of being sold to Chelsea or Manchester City than he is Liverpool, according to reports.

Southampton are intent on not being bullied by the Reds after their run in which led to the Anfield club making a public apology.

Yahoo sport says the Dutchman is likely to head to the Etihad or Stamford Bridge before Liverpool.

However, it will come at a heft cost of more than £70m - a world record for a defender.

Amid the near hysteria of Philippe Coutinho’s transfer saga, another delicate contract situation has gone largely un-noticed.

Yet if the loss of the little Brazilian would be seen as a dramatic blow to Liverpool that sends out the completely wrong message about their status and ambition, then so too would any sale of Emre Can.

Somehow, the young midfielder who is seen as the future of the German team and one of the most promising players in his position across Europe, has just a year left on his contract, with no end in sight to stuttering negotiations.

Failure to secure the 23 year-old on a new long-term deal would be seen as negligent in the extreme - especially given the fraught situation surrounding Coutinho, and what his desire to leave for Barcelona means.

Jordan Henderson will try to persuade Philippe Coutinho to turn his back on Barcelona because every Liverpool player “wants him to stay”.

Liverpool will have to play their crucial Champions League showdown with Hoffenheim in the play-off for Europe’s biggest prize without the injured Brazilian, who has submitted a transfer request.

But Henderson says that won’t affect the Reds tonight or stop the Kop skipper from trying to talk round his teammate.

Henderson said: “It’s a difficult situation for Phil and whatever I say won’t help matters - but we want Phil to stay because he’s a world class player.

“Ask anybody in the team and they want him to stay.

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

The miserable run Pellegrino must end

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SAINTS will attempt to end a miserable 16-month run at St Mary’s this weekend.

The last time the won a competitive home game on a Saturday was when Ronald Koeman was in charge, when Saints defeated Newcastle United 3-1 on April 9, 2016.

That day Shane Long, Graziano Pelle and Victor Wanyama were on target.

But ten games later - and just four goals scored and 15 conceded - Saints have yet to triumph again at St Mary’s on a Saturday in all competitions.

Saints went the entire duration of the Claude Puel era without a win at home on a Saturday afternoon - a jinx that Mauricio Pellegrino must now attempt to bury.

The 0-0 draw against Swansea last Saturday was Saints’ sixth draw of those ten games, with the other four defeats.

It’s also now a record six home league games that Saints have failed to score in - 545 minutes in total.

A Premier League high on the opening weekend, Saints hit 29 shots against the Swans - but only two of those efforts were on target.

Manolo Gabbiadini struck all five of his efforts off target, while James Ward-Prowse, Maya Yoshida, Nathan Redmond and Dusan Tadic all had four efforts.

Ward-Prowse and Tadic were the only two players to register a shot on target.

Since Ward-Prowse struck in the 85th minute of a 3-1 over Crystal Palace on Wednesday, April 5 - their last competitive home goal - Saints have hit 94 shots in total, with 20 of them on target.

But none of them have ended up in the back of the net.

The signs are positive, though, as Saints prepare to try an end this barren run on Saturday when West Ham United come to St Mary’s.

Saints demonstrated far more willingness and aggression to attack against Swansea and they scarcely could have done more to get that elusive goal.

The 29 efforts they did take were the most they have produced in this six-game drought, with the previous high the 17 shots they took in the goalless draw against Manchester United in the penultimate game of last season.

And having seen United dismantle the Hammers 4-0 at Old Trafford - with some shambolic defending a feature of that - Saints might feel confident they can finally stick one in the net.

Pellegrino is more than aware of the problem and wants his side to just keep plugging away at it.

“That’s football - we have to keep going, and if we do, we’ll definitely improve in that area,” he said.

“We played the way we felt we had to play - we controlled the game, we controlled the opponent, especially in the second half.

“We didn’t concede any counter-attacks. I think we produced a good performance, but in football you have to put the ball in the net. And we have to keep going.”

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/08/2017 08:12:17

| | Chelsea join hunt for Van DijkCLUBCALL |
| | Cristiano Ronaldo dressed down with five-game suspension - The Boston GlobeBOSTONGLOBE |

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The Ugly Inside News for Southampton

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Ormerod: Van Dijk and others have “too much control”

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FORMER Saints striker Brett Ormerod believes Virgil van Dijk and other wantaway players now have “too much control” and that contracts “aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on”.

Van Dijk handed in a transfer request last week and has been training alone after a summer spent agitating for a move away, amid interested from Liverpool and Chelsea.

The Dutchman signed a new six-year contract last July, but has shown no desire to honour that deal at St Mary’s by pushing for the exit door.

“You could say it’s the modern-day footballer now,” said Ormerod, who played 116 games for Saints, scoring 19 goals from 2001-2006. "He signed a new deal but, in some ways, contracts sometimes aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.

"Unfortunately for Southampton, they’re often caught between a rock and a hard place as some of their players will want to make – as they’ll perceive it – a step up.

"Van Dijk is on a fair amount of money and there’s no doubt the club will get a huge profit if they sell him and players often seem to get their own way now.

"Perhaps there needs to be more of a balance between player and club power and the Bosman ruling has arguably put too much control in players’ hands.

“He was happy to sign a contract and one would like to think that he would have wanted to see it out, but situations change in football and heads get turned.”

There have been, so far, no bids for Van Dijk, with Saints adamant they will not sell.

But Ormerod, who retired in January 2016 after also playing for Blackpool, Preston North End and Wrexham among others, reckons he’s likely to end up at Anfield before the end of this transfer window.

“I think he’s off to Liverpool if I’m honest,” he said. "A player who is clearly upset and not giving his all for the club can have a detrimental effect on the squad and Southampton are a team that always have a great team spirit and bond.

“At some point, perhaps there is a temptation to cut their losses and take the substantial profit the move will generate.”

The 40-year-old, who is now running a gym in Southport with his wife Lisa, has no doubt, however, that Saints will be able to source an adequate replacement.

“There is always a player in Southampton’s academy/youth-set up that can replace their stars,” he said. "They are one of the best clubs in the world to bring up their own players.

“I think they have one or two targets to replace Van Dijk. I can’t think of another club that has lost some of their best players as often as the Saints but has continued to perform well – quite simply it’s one of the best run clubs in the Premier League.”

The former striker still keeps a keen eye on Saints’ progress and would like nothing that to see Mauricio Pellegrino’s side go toe-to-toe with the big sides last season.

He also made his prediction for the season ahead.

“If they can replicate last season and finish in the top half with entertaining football then it will be a good season for the fans,” he said "I’d love to see them going to bigger teams and turning them over.

"They need to also keep their identity of bringing through youth players into the first team set-up.

"James Ward-Prowse is worthy of that armband and I’m hopeful he can continue his good form from the last few years. Gabbiadini could be a huge player for Southampton if they can provide him with the service; he has proven he can score goals.

This interview was brought to you in conjunction with Bwin.

To read the full interview with Brett Ormerod, click here.

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Sourced from Daily Star article

Virgil van Dijk: £70m may tempt Southampton to seal Chelsea deal, Liverpool less likely

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Chelsea remain in the hunt for the wantaway Saints centre-half, with Manchester City and Liverpool also keen.

However, Jurgen Klopp’s side face a struggle to land their top defensive target.

According to Yahoo Sport, Southampton will not be bullied into offloading Van Dijk to Liverpool.

And as a result, the 26-year-old will more likely be sold to either Chelsea or City should he leave this summer.

Van Dijk is continuing to train away from Mauricio Pellegrino’s first-team squad.

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

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#SaintsFCU23s striker Jonathan Afolabi on an impressive 4-0 win over #ReadingFC in the #PL2 last night:

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/08/2017 09:12:30

| | Norwich City will need to be quick Championship learners, vows Harrison ReedEASTERNDAILY |
| | Premier League: Southampton sell 80 percent stake for £210m to Chinese businessman Gao JishengFIRSTPOST |
|

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| O’Neill a bystander as players scramble for places at club levelIRELANDCOM |

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The Ugly Inside News for Southampton

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| Chelsea And Manchester City Now Favourites As Saints Stand Firm ! | Liverpool are no longer seen as the favourites to sign Virgil Van Dijk, at least according to the media who report … 15-08-2017 |

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| Saints Confirm Takeovera day ago |
| West Ham Game Approaching A Sell Outa day ago |
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Sourced from The Telegraph article

Football transfer news and rumours: ‘Liverpool poised to miss out on Virgil van Dijk as Chelsea and Manchester City circle £70m centre-back’

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Liverpool appear set to be delivered yet another transfer window blow after a source at Southampton revealed the south-coast club would sell centre-back Virgil van Dijk to Chelsea or Manchester City before agreeing a deal with the Merseysiders, according to a report on Yahoo Sports.

Jürgen Klopp is understood to be an admirer of the Dutchman but earlier this summer Liverpool were accused of illegally tapping up the player which led to Southampton reporting them to the Premier League. Liverpool subsequently stepped back, though are in desperate need of a centre-back and are understood to be keen on Van Dijk.

According to the report on Yahoo Sports, though, Southampton remain unhappy with Liverpool and Van Dijk, who the club believe they can still keep hold of despite him putting in a transfer request last week.

However, the source reportedly said that should Chelsea or Manchester City offer £70 million for Van Dijk than they may consider selling the unsettled player to one of them rather than Liverpool.

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/08/2017 10:12:42

| | Another Blow For Liverpool As Chelsea Re-Enter Race To Sign Long-Term Klopp Target – The Kop Times | Liverpool Fan …THEKOPTIMES |
| | Chelsea plan to spend £120m in signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Virgil van Dijk and Danny DrinkwaterIBTIMES |

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Sourced from talkSPORT article

Transfer rumours and paper review - Tuesday, August 15: Chelsea and Man City lead race for Van Dijk, Chelsea ‘confident’ of signing Arsenal star and MORE!

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talkSPORT bring you all the top headlines and transfer-related stories in Tuesday’s newspapers…

Chelsea and Manchester City are now leading the race for Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk, with Liverpool falling out of the running of a deal which could reach £70m. (Yahoo)

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain continues to be linked with a move away from Arsenal, with Chelsea ‘increasingly confident’ of landing the England winger for around £35million. (Evening Standard)

The Gunners could look to sign Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio as a replacement, with the futures of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alexis Sanchez still uncertain. (The Sun)

Arsene Wenger has again insisted Alexis Sanchez will be staying at Arsenal this summer, but reports claim Manchester City will test their resolve with a £60m bid. (Daily Telegraph)

Ajax’s Colombian defender Davinson Sanchez, 21, has told the Dutch club he wats to join Tottenham. (The independent)

Spurs officials travelled to Amsterdam on Monday to continue negotiations with Ajax, who are holding out for a fee of close to £36m. (The Guardian)

Everton midfielder Ross Barkley’s move to either Chelsea or Tottenham is in doubt after the 23-year-old suffered an injury in training. (The Sun)

Leicester forward Riyad Mahrez’s agent is trying to persuade Roma to increase their offer to £40m including add-ons so the Foxes will allow the 26-year-old to leave. (Sky Sports)

Leicester winger Tom Lawrence, 23, is on the verge of joining Derby County in a deal worth £7m. (Daily Mail)

Here are the latest talkSPORT.com headlines:

Rene Meulensteen says ‘something now clicking’ at Manchester United and backs Jose Mourinho’s side for Premier League title charge

Chelsea ‘may have given Manchester United the league title’ by selling them Nemanja Matic, blasts Ray Wilkins

‘They’re frightening!’ - Danny Rose’s interview will not affect Tottenham’s form, insists former captain Michael Dawson

Diego Costa latest: Striker says he has been treated like ‘a criminal’ by Chelsea and wants to join Atletico Madrid

Chelsea ‘in £50million bid to hijack Liverpool’s move for wantaway Southampton rebel Virgil Van Dijk’

Transfer ALERT! Newcastle United closing in on £5m deal for Stoke City striker Joselu

Transfer report: Sporting Lisbon and Portugal star William Carvalho ‘ready to have medical with West Ham’

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/08/2017 11:12:57

| | Van Dijk blow? Southampton refuse to do business with LiverpoolGOLIVERPOOL |
| | Gossip: Sanchez A, Sanchez D, Van Dijk, RodriguezFOOTBALL365 |
| | Dear Les, for my birthday I would like… - Southampton NewsTHEUGLYINSIDE |
|

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| Southampton looking into Wesley Hoedt signing as Virgil van Dijk nears Saints exitSBNATIONSTMARYSMUSINGS |
| | 3 things we learned from Southampton’s 0-0 bore draw with Swansea | | Where football transfer rumours fly or die!THETRANSFERTAVERN |

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

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