Southampton Transfer News: Saints To Rival Spurs For Leandro Damiao?

damiao Ambitious Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino could rival Tottenham for the signature of Internacional striker Leandro Damiao, according to the Daily Mail. Spurs have been tracking the 23-year-old Brazil international for the last two years and Internacional are now resigned to losing the player, who netted 24 times in 43 appearances for the Nação Vermelha last season. The powerful forward was due to feature in Brazil's Confederations Cup-winning squad, but had to pull out through injury and was replaced by former Manchester City striker Jo. Poschettino is also interested in two mpre adventurous transfer targets - Valencia midfielder Ever Banega as well as Celtic's Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama. The Argentinian boss is however short on Wanyama's wage demands, while newly-promoted Cardiff City are ready to pull out of the bidding after seeing their £11 million offer knocked back by the Scottish champions. Southampton narrowly avoided relegation last season, but were able to secure 14th place in their first season back in the Premier League after gaining back-to-back promotions to the topflight after entering administration and being relegated into League One in 2009. Clearly, these transfer targets represent a statement of intent by Poscettino, who believes his side can climb further still up the table next season.
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Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.