The Football Thread; transfer hype + stuff

[Skippy]

twitter.com/BBCSport/status/478235986204569601

Wenger you cold-blooded bastard

This is going to bite us on the arse so bloody hard

[tomvek]

Ronald Koeman: Southampton set to name Dutchman manager

The Premier League club are expected to make an announcement this week following the departure of former boss Mauricio Pochettino to Tottenham.

Koeman, 51, led Feyenoord to second place in the Eredivisie last season, but left at the end of the campaign.

He may opt to recruit his brother Erwin as his assistant after he also left his coaching role at RKC Waalwijk.

The search for Argentine Pochettino's replacement has been led by Les Reed, the executive director at St Mary's.

Saints chairman Ralph Krueger had earlier told BBC Radio Solent that the managerial vacancy had attracted "huge interest".

He said on 28 May, after Pochettino's departure: "We have the highest-quality managers in Europe knocking on our door."

Koeman's honours as a player include winning the 1988 European Championship with the Dutch national team, the European Cup - now the Champions League - with PSV Eindhoven in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992, and domestic league titles in the Netherlands and Spain.

He played 763 games for club and country, scoring 253 goals - including the winner for Barcelona against Sampdoria in the 1992 European Cup final at Wembley.

Koeman is also remembered for his role in stopping England reaching the 1994 World Cup - when he controversially stayed on the pitch and then scored to end Graham Taylor's ill-fated qualifying campaign.

His managerial career has taken in spells at Vitesse, Ajax, Benfica, PSV, Valencia and AZ Alkmaar, before he joined Feyenoord in July 2011.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27859958

[D_C]

twitter.com/BBCSport/status/478174897307664384

Hopefully Cech stays for a season to help with the transition.

[It'sNotLupus]

Ronald Koeman: Southampton set to name Dutchman manager

Feeling positive about this. The people who have looked for him are the same team that found Pochettino. He's got a good record of bringing through youth talent and he should command a lot of respect from the players. Looking forward to his appointment and seeing who he brings in.

[Kanbei]

twitter.com/BBCSport/status/478174897307664384

Hopefully Cech stays for a season to help with the transition.

Not a chance of that at all.

[KB]

Ronald Koeman: Southampton set to name Dutchman manager

Feeling positive about this. The people who have looked for him are the same team that found Pochettino. He's got a good record of bringing through youth talent and he should command a lot of respect from the players. Looking forward to his appointment and seeing who he brings in.

Great appointment, be prepared to raid Feyenoord. Think you'll almost certainly try and sign Graziano Pelle.

[Codename 47]

Somewhat unexpected transfer rumour/story but Spanish press claim that Higuain will join Barca this summer for 40 Million Euros.

[Osito]

Unsurprisingly after his recent form, the Griezmann to Real rumours have resurfaced and are supposedly in advanced stages. A good world cup won't do him any harm, but it's a shame that both he and Vela look certain to leave.

[Kanbei]

Seems like the rumours linking us with Vermaelen are true. It'd be a strange one.

[BOR]

Seems like the rumours linking us with Vermaelen are true. It'd be a strange one.

Very.

I reckon he could be our back up defender.

[Skippy]

Doubt he'd leave Arsenal's bench just to join United's, he'll want first team football

[Mafro]

Decent signing if LVG is planning on playing three at the back.

[Benzin]

Surely with Vidic and Ferdinand both gone he'll be first choice at United? Partnered with Jones probably...

[Herdanos]

Yeah, I would think so too - if Vermaelen ends up at Old Trafford he'll be a starter for sure (although I doubt LvG would try and impose his current Netherlands formation on United)

[It'sNotLupus]

twitter.com/SouthamptonFC/status/478552846024343552

Chuffed.

[Finiarél]

twitter.com/skysportspeteo/status/478569288882982912

[Mockmaster]

Interesting. I'll pick him up on the cheap on FM2014 and we'll see just how much of a starlet he actually is.

[Finiarél]

twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/478599688451796992

Very good buy for Sunderland that!

[Kanbei]

Rakitic has officially joined Barca.

[Buffalo]

twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/478599688451796992

Very good buy for Sunderland that!

If rather we kept Westwood than this guy