Video: Who is Southampton target Gaston Ramirez?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0S2bwseO_0

Uruguay international Gaston Ramirez has attracted the interest of Liverpool, and Southampton have tabled a club record bid of just under £12 million for the Bologna player.

By Declan Whooley

Equally at home either up front or on the wing, Ramirez was signed by the Italian side in 2010 for £2.5 million after winning the Uruguayan championship with Penarol. He has played 58 games for Bologna in two years, scoring 12 times, and Saints boss Nigel Adkins is clearly excited at the prospect of bringing the frontman to St. Marys.

“It looks exciting doesn’t it? It obviously shows the ambition of the football club” said a beaming Adkins.

Bologna president Albano Guaraldi on the other hand is not a happy camper. He is not happy with the bid, the players’ wishes to leave and the behaviour of Ramirez’s agent.

“The offer we received has not been considered suitable. I don't understand why Gaston said those things. I won't even get into the behaviour of his agent” said a clearly disgruntled Guaraldi.

This is a clip of 21 year-old Ramirez scoring his first international goal at this summers Olympic Games against the UAE.

Ramirez will have big shoes to fill at Southampton if he does break the transfer record. Up until the signing of Jay Rodriguez this summer, Rory Delap held the distinction for eleven years after the Saints paid Derby County £5.3 million for his services in 2001.

The deal is yet to be concluded with Bologna seeking to secure a loan against the repayments of the transfer fee, but the Saints are confident the deal will be concluded this week.

It remains to be seen whether Ramirez has the throwing ability of the Irish defender.