Owls swoop for Rasiak

Owls manger Brian Laws has stepped up his bid for the Poland international, who scored 18 goals in 38 appearances in the league for the Saints last season.

Laws is looking to bounce straight back after seeing his ambitious attempt to sign Patrick Kluivert fall through.

Laws told the Yorkshire Post: "We are hoping to make some kind of breakthrough in the next dew days.

"Until we get permission to talk to the player, there is no other issue to be discussed.

"Southampton have been in touch. It's a positive note, they are not telling us to go away.

"I know it has been a long drawn-out process, but the fact that it got out in the open has made it more difficult because everyone is impatient."

Rasiak first came to prominence during his prolific 2004/05 season at Derby County, in which he scored 18 Championship goals.

That success paved the way for the 28-year-old's move to the Premiership with Tottenham, but limited first team opportunities at White Hart Lane yielded just eight top flight appearances and no goals.