Southampton failed in club-record bid for Getafe star

Southampton new boss Mauricio Pochettino failed in a last-gasp club-record bid for Abdelaziz Barrada, according to report in Spain.

Pochettino arrived two weeks before the close of the January transfer window and was linked with a whole host of players in La Liga.

The Argentinean failed to add to his squad but it has now been claimed that he made a late £15.25m offer for Getafe midfielder Barrada, which would have eclipsed Southampton's previous club-record fee of £12m for Gaston Ramirez.

After his time playing and managing in Spain, Pochettino knows all about the classy 23-year-old midfielder, who has also attracted Manchester City in the past, and he could go back for him in the summer.

And, although this bid might have failed, it suggests that Southampton are ready to back the 40-year-old with funds in the transfer market.