SAINTS SO CLASIE

SOUTHAMPTON last night agreed a fee with Feyenoord for midfielder Jordy Clasie after staving off a late bid by Schalke to hijack the deal. Saints will pay £7m with a further £1.5m in add-ons for the Holland star, who replaces Morgan Schneiderlin after his move to Manchester United. German club Schalke contacted Feyenoord after it was announced Saints had opened talks.

But Clasie (right) had his heart set on a reunion with former boss Ronald Koeman.

Clasie, 24, dubbed ‘The Dutch Xavi’, played under Koeman before he switched to the south coast last year.

Saints moved quickly to replace Schneiderlin following the Frenchman’s £25m switch to Old Trafford.

Clasie will sign a £30,000-a-week deal and is Saints’ fifth summer buy after Maarten Stekelenburg, Cedric Soares, Juanmi and Cuco Martina.

Midfielder James Ward-Prowse said: “The new signings look great. It’s very exciting when new players come in.” BOURNEMOUTH target Demarai Gray has signed a three-year deal at Birmingham. JOSE BAXTER is clear to start the season with Sheffield United after three months of his five-month drugs ban was suspended by the FA. FABIO CAPELLO has been paid £10.7m in compensation after being sacked as head coach of Russia. WIGAN have signed Northern Ireland striker Will Grigg from Brentford on a three-year deal. MARTYN WOOLFORD has agreed a two-year deal with Sheffield United after being released by Millwall. LEEDS have signed Cardiff midfielder Tom Adeyemi in a season-long loan. BOLTON boss Neil Lennon is planning a double swoop for Celtic striker Anthony Stokes and Newcastle midfielder Haris Vuckic. HULL have offered Robbie Brady, Ahmed Elmohamady, James Chester and David Meyler new contracts. BRIGHTON striker Adrian Colunga, 30, is set to return to Spain by joining La Liga new-boys Las Palmas.