Southampton offer for Yuri Alberto ‘does not excite’ directors – But there’s a way to do deal

Earlier today we brought together some claims from Brazil which covered Southampton’s efforts to sign Yuri Alberto from Corinthians.

The Saints were said to have made a loan offer which would include an option to buy the 23-year-old. The loan fee proposed was €3m, and the permanent clause put at €18m.

Everything was at that stage down to Corinthians to decide how they wanted to respond to the Premier League club.

Goal Brasil now report Southampton’s offer ‘does not excite’ Corinthians’ board of directors. That’s because they’d prefer a complete purchase now or, at the very least, an obligation which means Southampton must buy Yuri Alberto next summer.

Corinthians signed the attacker in January 2023 from Zenit, having initially had him on loan from the Russian club. As part of the deal agreed at the time, Zenit are due a large percentage of any profit.

Southampton may want to return with a new offer, something which perhaps sees the buying option become mandatory if certain conditions are met. Those conditions could be related to the Saints staying in the Premier League and the player making a certain number of appearances, but that’s just our idea.

Yuri Alberto has scored 17 goals and registered three assists from 38 games for Corinthians this year.