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Southampton agree Manolo Gabbiadini deal, Serdar Tasci move off - sources

Southampton have agreed a deal for Napoli striker Manolo Gabbiadini but their move for German defender Serdar Tasci is off, sources close to the Saints have told ESPN FC.

Southampton have been locked in talks with Napoli for several weeks over a possible deal for Italy international Gabbiadini and sources say they have finally agreed a fee of £14.5 million for the 25-year-old.

However, Southampton's pursuit of Spartak Moscow defender Tasci has ended after they failed to agree a deal with the Germany international and they will now look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements.

Gabbiadini's agent earlier confirmed the player is set to leave Napoli.

"It's a choice he and the club have taken together," Gabbiadini's agent, Silvio Pagliari, told Mediaset. "Nothing is concrete yet, but the club have opened up to it. The lad is happy to get the chance to play abroad and [Napoli president Aurelio] De Laurentiis has been a gentleman with him."

Gabbiadini joined Napoli from Sampdoria in January 2015 and scored eight goals in his first 20 games for the club that season.

He only found the back of the net five times in 23 games last term, though, and he has failed to perform any better this term with just three goals in 13 outings, despite becoming Napoli's only striker after summer signing Arkadiusz Milik tore knee ligaments.

Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri instead altered his tactics and has been fielding Dries Mertens in his attack with Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon, while Leonardo Pavoletti has been brought in this winter.

ESPN FC's Italy correspondent, Ben Gladwell, contributed to this report.