"We feel we have a pretty good squad right now and want to keep the key players as well as bringing in a couple of new faces to strengthen and help us progress," said Rupert Lowe. This once again suggests that Lowe thinks that Saints can progress without investing more in the squad. I disagree, but would it stop the rumours anyway? Not a chance, so here's the latest crop.
IN: The Hedman and Michael Svensson rumours are still trundling on although Hedman has apparently asked for too much money and will be going elsewhere. A Troyes spokesman, where Svensson plays said: "Some of Southampton's representatives came to the club to see him play and we are ready to listen to them."
Svensson's agent Kent Carlzon added : "A year ago Southampton saw the player before he went to Troyes. If you ask any Swedish player, his dream is to play in the best league in the world, and most of them feel that is the English Premiership."
A replacement for Wayne Bridge, who according to the press will be leaving for Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester United, is Graeme Le Saux. The channel islander's England career is essentially over and would slot easily into left back or left midfield. In fact we could always keep Bridge and enquire after him anyway.
It's been a week or so since we were linked with Gary Breen, who's having an excellent World Cup. Breen is without a club at the moment and has been most recently rumoured to be joining Reading. I would be very surprised if we couldn't offer better terms than Reading, although there are rumours of Strachan and Breen not getting along too well.
OUT:
James Beattie is reportedly a target of Sunderland with Peter Reid offering £5 million. A couple of years ago I would have jumped at this, but James has come a long way in that time and double that fee would be more accurate a price. A club spokesperson said: ''James is happy here and is under contract. We have no intention of selling him and £5million is far less than he is worth.''
Anders Svensson has already impressed many in this World Cup, and a rumour form the Saints mailing list suggests he is a target of Barcelona. This of course, can't be the case, as he isn't Dutch and therefore can't play any part in Van Gaal's restructuring at the Camp Nou
Wayne Bridge is still on the shopping list of both Liverpool and Manchester United. He has been a long time target at Anfield, but Alex Ferguson will need some new faces in defence after deciding to stay on for another couple of years.
The last time Kevin Davies was linked with a move, it was to West Brom. However, Kevin appeared in this month's 442 as part of their 2002 World Cup squad which they predicted back in 1998. Kevin had just moved to Blackburn and his future looked bright indeed. A nightmare spell at Blackburn resulted in a return to the Saints with Ostenstad going the other way. Apart from the odd flash, Kevin has never regained his early form and is now pretty much surplus to requirements.
Finally, ex-saint Jim Magilton has been linked in a free transfer between Ipswich and Leicester.