Both Southampton and Crystal Palace were said to be pursuing the Germany international ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
Serdar Tasci’s wage demands proved too much for both Southampton and Crystal Palace, a Daily Mail report claims.
The Spartak Moscow defender was a rumoured target for both clubs as they looked to add to their back lines before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
Former Bayern Munich pair Serdar Tasci and Pep Guardiola
It was initially claimed on Monday that Tasci was set to undergo a medical on the south coast ahead of a half-season loan move to Southampton.
Then, the following day, Crystal Palace were reportedly ready to hijack that deal by offering to sign the Germany international on a permanent basis.
Report: Crystal Palace could hijack Southampton’s proposed deal
Simon Jones of the Daily Mail writes that Tasci “was due to fly to Southampton at the weekend for what seemed a straightforward loan move, even though Spartak were pushing for a permanent deal.”
Jones adds: “He failed to turn up for his first scheduled flight but came over on Monday for talks with a pre-arranged deal set. However, he failed to agree terms as he looked for around £3m in wages tax free.
“Crystal Palace moved to hijack the deal but balked at his demands also.”
Sky pundit suggests Crystal Palace should have nailed 24-year-old’s signing
Palace ultimately turned to Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho on loan until the end of the campaign, however, Southampton were left empty-handed – despite selling Jose Fonte to West Ham earlier in the month and losing Virgil van Dijk, the Portugal international’s one-time centre-back partner, to injury.
New Crystal Palace recruit Mamadou Sakho
The Saints could still bolster their defensive ranks despite the deadline having passed, although Claude Puel’s side can only sign players who were free agents before Tuesday’s 11pm cut-off.
Would Tasci have been worth the trouble for Southampton/Crystal Palace?
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