Saints are being linked in the media with a move for Manchester City's midfielder Jack Rodwell.

Before anyone gets too excited though we are just one of a number of clubs whose names are being linked with a bid for his services including his former club Everton and even Hull City who themselves are also again being linked with a bid for Jose Fonte.

Rodwell's career has stalled somewhat since his £12 million pound move to the Etihad two years ago and given that he signed a five year deal back then City are in no hurry to cash in before his contract runs down.

This being the case they are prepared to listen to offer either for a one year loan spell or a permanent deal, Saints who could see Rodwell as a replacement for Morgan Schneiderlin if he leaves the club are probably one of the few clubs chasing the Southport born player who could afford to pay for him outright rather than get him on a temporary basis and that could put us in the driving seat should we make our move.

In contrast though it could also work against us in the fact that Rodwell himself might prefer a loan deal both from a playing perspective and financially as a contract elsewhere might not be as lucrative as the big money deal signed two years ago, also he would probably prefer to stay in the North.

It does show however hos Saints are now seen as a buying club having shed three players and raked in the cash, we are certainly in a strong psoition now in the fact we can buy before we need to sell and we can afford to hold out on top money for the likes of Lovren or Schneiderlin.

To finish on Rodwell though, he certainly seems set to leave the Etihad after only 16 appearances in two seasons has left him way down the pecking order, only 7 of those appearances are actual starts with his game time in the Premier amounting to only 1 start and 109 minutes football meaning he is fast becoming the forgotten man, certainly though he still has potential and could be the type of player Saints could be looking to get for a reasonable fee and resurrect his career.

Photo: Action Images

TreeHugger added 12:57 - Jul 11 morgan all day please plus cork, wanyama, prowse and davis all above rodwell
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A1079 added 13:14 - Jul 11 I don't think we are seen as a buying club, I think we are seen as a club that cannot hold onto its best players. It does make us a club with some money to spend which a whole raft of clubs would like us to spend on them, especially if they have a player that no longer fits in their plans. Whether they are quality and can effectively replace what we have lost remains to be seen. One signing doth not a summer make, or a good team for that matter. But time will tell.

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SaintinMalta added 13:19 - Jul 11 I thought Rodwell left Everton for a good deal more £12 million? A player like this will have his choice of clubs - and it won't be us. When Schneiderlin moves on, he is the one player of those that have left, who can replaced 'in-house'. I believe that this can be Chambers best position, he has more than enough nouse, and talent to be a huge success playing there - before he too leaves us for one of the so-called 'big 6'.

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