Edouard Spertsyan given advice on Southampton transfer as Saints lodge £10.5m bid

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Will Still’s press conference made for very interesting reading as Southampton ready themselves for the potential departure of Mateus Fernandes before the close of the transfer window.

While the Saints are determined to hang onto their Portuguese playmaker – West Ham United reportedly saw a £30 million bid rejected in midweek – the man in the dugout on the banks of the Solent is keen to ensure that any sale is prepared for.

Frank Lampard is determined to keep Jack Rudoni at Coventry City but that may be easier said than done.

Southampton reportedly submitted an offer for the £15 million-rated midfielder last week, after Rudoni scored nine league goals in the West Midlands last time out,

According to the  Southern Daily Echo, Southampton are trying to sign Edouard Spertsyan from Russian outfit Krasnodar as well, to the tune of £10.5 million. And the prospect of a new challenge in England’s second tier has become the source of much debate in the last few days, especially with the Armenia international confirming that the Saints’ interest is indeed real.

Krasnodar star Edouard Spertsyan ‘has no business’ joining Southampton

Spertsyan has twice been named the Russian Premier League Midfielder of the Year.

He also inspired Krasnodar to their first-ever league title last time out, scoring 11 goals while providing a further seven assists from the heart of the pitch.

But, speaking to Russian publication BR, former Spartak Moscow defender Aleksandr Bubnov is keen to talk Spertsyan out of a new challenge in unforgiving world of the second tier of English football.

“‘Edik’, you have no business there,” Bubnov begins. “Firstly, it’s the Championship. Secondly, they’ll kill you there!

“They play very tough and dirty there. All the games there are tough. There is a terrible fight.”

Southampton supporters need no introduction, of course, into the rigours of Championship life.

“For Spertsyan and Southampton, everyone is in charge of their own destiny,” adds pundit Andrey Chervichenko, speaking to Sport in similarly disparaging tones. “Maybe he likes the idea of living in an English village.

“Everyone chooses according to their taste. Perhaps Spertsyan thinks that everything is perfect there, because he hasn’t been there much. But he will probably be disappointed, and in a year he will look for a team to [leave for]”

Chervichenko brings to mind the European struggles of Fyodor Chalov and Arsen Zakharyan. Two more talented forwards who blossomed in Russia but struggled to make their mark elsewhere in Europe.

Will Still and Edouard Spertsyan open up on Southampton interest

Speaking ahead of Southampton’s trip to Ipswich Town on Saturday lunchtime – an early season clash between two title favourites – head coach Will Still confirmed that Rudoni and Spertsyan remain under consideration.

“It’s the same as last week when asked about Rudoni. There’s a big list of players that we’ve looked at and Eduard was a part of that list,” Still explains.

“He’s a good player. He’s got a proven record and we’re interested in good players, but that’s about it, or it’s as much as I can say.”

“It’s too early to talk about a transfer to Southampton, but it’s serious; there is an offer,” Spertsyan himself admits.

“I will soon go to Krasnodar and talk to the president. We will see what decision we will make together.”

Spertsyan has been likened to Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard due to his eye for goal from central midfield.

Nikola Elich, the former director of Krasnodar’s academy, even went as far as to describe Spertsyan as ‘one of the best midfielders in Europe’.