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Southampton want to spend big in Serie A again for Inter Milan's Coutinho and Italy defender Davide Astori.

The Saints, run by Italian chairman Nicola Cortese, paid £12m for Gaston Ramirez in the summer.

Now the Premier League new boys want the £10m-rated Brazilian playmaker and the Cagliari defender.

Liverpool have also been tracking Astori who has won two Italy caps but the Sardinian club are seeking £12m.

(Image: PA)

Coutinho started out with Rio de Janeiro giants Vasco da Gama before signing for Internazionale in 2010. His first-team opportunities at the San Siro became sadly limited however, and he was farmed out to Spanish strugglers Espanyol on loan for the second half of last season.

The playmaker turned out to be an inspired signing for the Pericos, with his unpredictable dribbling and rasping long shots causing problems for many La Liga defences.

With Inter remodelling their side under Andrea Stramaccioni it is likely that the Brazilian will be allowed to leave, supported by the fact that the rookie manager has only given him three Serie A starts this season.

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Our La Liga expert David Cartlidge gave us his view on Coutinho based on his spell at the Cornella last season:

"The Brazilian was a key fixture for Espanyol despite being on loan, as he provided a real creative impetus and vibrancy. He has the skill, technique and confidence you'd expected from a Brazilian attacking midfielder.

"The only negative is perhaps his fondness of attempting to do it all on his own. If the boy can get his head up, he'll be a huge success."

While the Nerazzuri seem willing to part with Coutinho, islanders Cagliari are keen to hold onto star performer Davide Astori for as long as possible.

In the face of much interest from home and abroad, they have kept Astori at Sant'Elia (or the Is Arenas for the time being) and it would take an offer of at least £12m to force the Rossoblu into letting go of the centre-back that has become a key part of their spine.