Let's construct a rumour: Osvaldo to make Spurs switch?

Troubled inside forward and part-time hipster pirate Dani Osvaldo looks set to leave Southampton after reportedly failing to turn up at St. Mary's for training following the summer break. Saints manager Ronald Koeman has confirmed that the Italian is in the shop window for any potential buyers to take a look at, and all the UK papers know exactly which club is about to make a swoop for him: none other than Tottenham Hotspur, of course.

Well, not really. But if the papers aren't making this link now, then they really should be soon. After all, it was only a year ago that Spurs were rumoured to be in for Osvaldo before getting gazumped at the last minute by the South Coast club. It's almost doubtless that we were at least looking at him considering our current Director of Football Franco Baldini was part of the hierarchy at Roma when Osvlado was at his arguable peak in Serie A, and thus it might make sense if we make another bid should he be put up for sale at a bargain price. Then there's the fact that our current manager Mauricio Pochettino has a long history with Osvaldo, having played under him first at Espanyol and then obviously at Southampton last year- with Osvaldo describing him as 'fantastic to work with'.

Of course, there's the fact that Pochettino sent the forward on loan at Juventus last season after seeing him attack another player in training and probably now sees him for the locker room poison he is. Oh, and he hates our record signing Erik Lamela too. But that said, when has something as small as a few serious behind-the-scenes bust-ups ever stood between the British red-tops and a good bit of gossip-mongering? And he can play on the left, too! Sun, Mirror, do your thing.