Southampton transfer news: Saints interested in Feyernoord striker Graziano Pelle

Saints facing a summer of change as Ronald Koeman rebuilds squad

Tom Sheen
Wednesday 02 July 2014 17:03 BST
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Southampton are interested in Feyenoord striker Graziano Pelle
Southampton are interested in Feyenoord striker Graziano Pelle (Getty Images)

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Southampton have made a bid for Feyernoord's Italian striker Graziano Pelle.

With Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana, as well as manager Mauricio Pochettino, already gone from St Mary's, new boss Ronald Koeman wants to act quickly to rebuild his squad.

Pelle, 28, is a player Koeman knows extremely well, having managed him for the last two seasons in Eredivise.

During that time, Pelle was one of the most prolific strikers in the Netherlands, scoring 50 goals in 57 matches for Feyenoord.

Pelle was the second top scorer in each of the last two seasons, behind Wilfried Bony in 2012/13 and Alfred Finnbogason last season.

Standing at 6ft 4in but technically good, Pelle is seen as the ideal replacement for Rickie Lambert, who has joined Liverpool for £4m.

Southampton are believed to have put in a bid that has fallen short of Feyenoord's £9.5m valuation.

Koeman managed Pelle at Feyenoord last season
Koeman managed Pelle at Feyenoord last season (Getty Images)

Koeman is expected to raid the Dutch market for other players, with Adam Lallana also departed and Dejan Lovren the subject of much interest.

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