Southampton Transfers: Pelle Switch Stalls Over £8 million Asking Price

Vitaliy Timkiv/AP/Press Association ImagesGraziano Pelle's move from Dutch team Feyenoord has reportedly stalled after Southampton have stopped short of the £8 million asking price, according to Goal. The 28 year-old striker, who netted 23 goals in 28 appearances last season for Feyenoord, has been on the new Southampton manager Ronald Koeman's radar since taking over from previous manager Mauricio Pochettino earlier this month. According to Sky Sports, Southampton launched a first bid for the front-man in the region of ‚12 million last week. Pelle has been tipped to be Southampton's primary transfer target to replace Rickie Lambert after the 32 year-old striker parted ways with the club and followed his childhood dream to sign for Liverpool last month. Southampton, who have also lost Luke Shaw and attacking midfielder Adam Lallana, and are on the verge of potentially losing Dejan Lovren and Morgan Schneiderlin before the start of the new season, have banked approximately between £50-£60 million from their transfer deals over the summer. Although it is reported that Everton made a late surge for the player, 25 year-old Serbian play-maker Dusan Tadic recently concluded negotiations with the Saints, switching from FC Twente and signing a four year contract at the south-coast club for an undisclosed fee. And it seems Koeman now wants to get his second signing with Graziano Pelle done as quickly as possible. Speaking at his first press conference as manager of Southampton, when questioned about Pelle's transfer situation, Koeman said:

"Pelle is close but it's still not signed. We're getting closer together and we hope maybe this weekend to have him as the second new signing.

To get their hit-man, Southampton will have to cough up approximately £8 million plus a reported 25 per cent sell-on fee and with their newly added war chest at their disposal Pelle's arrival at Southampton, although not swift, seems imminent.