Reports in Italy claim Pablo Daniel Osvaldo has agreed to join Southampton.
The Argentine-born Italy international has been linked with a move away from Roma for much of the summer, and he was left out of their side for the 2-1 friendly win over Temana on Saturday. A muscular injury was the given reason for his absence, but it has now been claimed he is in the process of finalising a move to England.
According to Corriere dello Sport and Sky Sport Italia, Osvaldo has agreed a transfer to the Saints, who are set to pay £15million for his signature whilst handing him a four-year contract worth £8million. Previously linked with Internazionale and Tottenham Hotspur, the 27-year-old is thought to have been convinced to join the St Mary’s outfit by Mauricio Pochettino, who is earning a reputation as a shrewd coach in England.
Should a move materialise, this would smash Southampton’s transfer record fee of £12million, which they paid Bologna for Gaston Ramirez last year. It would take their spending this summer to over £35million, having signed midfielder Victor Wanyama from Celtic for £12million and defender Dejan Lovren from Lyon for £8.5million.
It would also provide Pochettino with a genuine selection dilemma up front. Rickie Lambert, who scored on his England debut in midweek, was the highest scoring Englishman in the Premier League last season with 15 goals, whilst 24-year-old Jay Rodriguez has impressed since arriving from Burnley last summer. Osvaldo, who is under contract at Roma until 2016, scored 16 times in 29 Serie A appearances for the Giallorossi last term.
The Saints, meanwhile, started the current season in fine form, with a Lambert penalty earning them maximum points at West Bromwich Albion.
