Gordon Strachan has finally got the keeper he wanted - five years late.
Finnish international stopper Antti Niemi signed for Saints in a £2m deal from Hearts yesterday, five years after he rejected Coventry for a move to Rangers.
The Saints boss explained: "I tried to sign him in 1997 when I was at Coventry.
"I met him and left him in a hotel room on a Friday night and then went on my holidays.
"When I came back, he was playing for Rangers so I'm keeping an eye on him this time!"
The signing of the 30-year-old is part of Strachan's policy to bring in players that can increase competition in the squad and improve the quality all round.
Paul Jones has been the number one at Saints for several years now and the arrival of Niemi will mean the Welsh keeper will have to perform at his best to keep his place in the side.
"He's in the price range, he's a good goalkeeper and he's got personality," added Strachan.
"What his signing does is give us a stronger goalkeeping unit at the club.
"It has worked well bringing in players of that price range and putting pressure on other people.
"Fabrice Fernandes for example came in and put pressure on Chris Marsden and came into the team on Saturday and showed he can play very well."
Niemi could go straight into the squad to face Liverpool at Anfield tomorrow but Strachan played down his chances of playing by saying: "I can't see him starting."
The arrival of Niemi has increased speculation that Neil Moss may move to Luton on either a temporary or permanent basis.
Hatters boss Joe Kinnear is desperately short in that department and watched Moss at Saints' reserve match against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday. He admitted: "We're looking at him - he played about 15 games in Southampton's first team last season and I've already spoken to Gordon Strachan and the boy's agent."
Strachan and Southampton's spend-ing policy is quite the opposite of Liverpool, who have splashed out heavily again this summer.
The Saints boss added: "Having money to spend brings its own pressure. Even Gerard Houllier, who is one of the greatest managers, doesn't always get it right.
"Most of the time he does but sometimes even the best coaches in the world can get it wrong."
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