Older Saints fans will refer affectionately to Ossie, Peter Osgood. But younger fans will perhaps have a new Ossie to worship, if rumours come to fruition.

Saints are reportably about to make a bid for Roma's Pablo Osvaldo, the 27 year old Argentian born Italian International (confused ? I am !) played for Mauricio Pochettino at Espanyol before a £15 million move to Roma, hence the connection and many in the media putting 2 and 2 together and making £17 million.

Osvaldo is seeking a move due to a spat with his club coach during Roma's Copa Italia Final loss to local rivals Lazio, a shouting match that also saw him dropped from the Italian International squad for both orld Cup qualifyers and the confederations cup tournament.

Last season Osvaldo made 31 appearances for Roma scoring 17 goals.

Osvaldo does have other Saints connections apart from MoPo though, in March 2008 he headed home a cross from Papa Waigo to give Fiorentina a stoppage time win against Juventus and was then sent off for his celebrations.

He does seem an emotional type of player, after joining Roma in August 2011, he settled in quickly, but angry after not receiving a pass from a team mate during a game, he then argued with him and punched him in the face earning a fine and suspension from his club. The latest indiscretion where he shouted at the manager for not giving him more time on the pitch during the cup final seems to be the last straw and both player and club want a parting of the ways.

He seems to have a knack for scoring though, during his time at Espanyol under Pochettino he netted 20 goals in only 44 league games and his two seasons at Roma have seen 27 goals in 54 league games, exactly a goal every other game, a decent total in any top division.

He was capped by Italy at Under 21 level and followed that up in 2011 with full caps, in 11 appearances for the Azzurri he has scored 3 times, but is currently out of the squad due to his latest indiscretion.

Overall he looks a good bet for Saints, at 28 being at the peak of his career, however you dont spent the sort of money needed for a player to sit on a clubs bench, at least not at a club the size of Saints and if we are genuinely after him then it does not bode well for the future of ickie Lambert at the club, whether we landed Osvaldo or not it would signify that we are looking to replace Lambert.          

Photo: Action Images

REEDYREEDOREEDZ added 10:59 - Jun 21 This is just lazy journalism from the likes of the Echo. We've been linked with a load of players that Poche has previously worked with. I don't think Saints will spend that much money on a player who is likely to upset the rest of the squad by sulking or kicking off every time things don't go his way. Its not Southampton's style to spend big money on an ageing player who's resale value will only go down.

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Jesus_02 added 11:31 - Jun 21 Lazy Journalism from the echo indeed...not so from TUI. A very comprehensive article on a player we are (in my opinion) unlikely to see in a Saints shirt. my reasons 1: Price 2: Age/ sell on value 3: Temprement Still a good read and an entertaining way to waiste time until the season begins
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Dazzler73 added 12:07 - Jun 21 If only we knew what was actually going on behind the scenes with player negotiations my life would be so much easier!!! Anyone got MoPo's or Nicola's mobile numbers please...I need to speak to them urgently!!
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GNSaint added 13:18 - Jun 21 their mobiles probably start 07, that's the best i can do! this guy sounds like trouble, dont want him..
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SaintNick added 14:04 - Jun 21 I agree with most about the fact that he is a bit older than our usual targets, but perhaps there is a shift in emphasis under pochettino, a year or two back the word was that we were planning on building the spine of the team in homegrown English players, yet now we seem to be increasingly looking abroad. Temperament might not be as big an issue as his time under Pochettino seemed to be fine, and after all we do have Puncheon still in the fold who has spent most of his career with Saints elsewhere due to spats

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ExiledSupporter added 16:56 - Jun 21 Sounds like a questionable purchase to me too. Not least because of the age and cost. I don't think this fits with our previous policy (of youngish players whose value may yet rise) and can't see why we should see fit to abandon it now and at such a cost. Blimey we could perhaps get Lukaku and Hooper for around that much (not that we need both of them either)!
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