Date of Birth: 03 01 1977
Place of Birth: Casablanca
Position: Midfielder
Nationality: Morocco
Youssef Safri Rumours and Transfers
14 08 2007
Southampton manager George Burley has claimed he was forced to sell players in the summer to fend off the threat of administration.
Following Saints' failure to win promotion back to the Premier League and their parachute payments ceasing, the South Coast side were left with a financial shortfall.
Burley helped fill the void by cashing in on the likes of Gareth Bale and Chris Baird to Spurs and Fulham respectively, whilst Pele also recently departed to Championship rivals West Brom.
Burley was desperate for Saints to avoid going into administration, after seeing Leeds pay a heavy price, and is now looking to increase his depleted Saints squad.
He informed Sky Sports, "I spent the summer bringing money in to keep the club out of administration. We have done that. We lost our parachute money. I was aware of that. We sold Pele for £1 million. So we are looking to bring players in. I am very pleased with the signing Youssef Safri. We'll keep working hard because it will take time to get as strong as last season, however we are confident we will do it."
03 08 2007
Southampton have completed the signing of out of favour Norwich midfielder Youssef Safri for an undisclosed fee.
Safri, who has also been linked with West Brom, signed a 2 year deal.
Canaries manager Peter Grant was furious with the Moroccan international after he turned up late for the official team photo earlier this week.
Safri was then dropped from the team to face The Hammers in a friendly Tuesday and Grant mentioned his days at Carrow Road were numbered.
The former Coventry man becomes manager George Burley's 4th new recruit of the summer, having already signed Adam Hammill, Gregory Vignal and Alan Bennett.
Safri 1st made the move to English football when he joined the Sky Blues in 2001 from his home-town side Raja Casablanca.
Norwich paid Coventry £500,000 Safri in June 2004.
02 08 2007
Youssef Safri appears to have played his last game for Norwich after manager Peter Grant hit out at the midfielder.
Safri, 30, was late for the official team photo and was absent from the team to face The Hammers in a friendly.
"He will be fined his wages and we will see where it goes from there. It is up to him now whether he would like to be here," Grant informed the Norwich website.
Grant mentioned he hoped Safri, who was linked with Southampton and West Brom, would not play for him again.
"I would like people who are committed here," he said.
"I have hid behind it for a long time, so lots of things were going on. If you do not want to be here, it makes my decision easy."
Norwich paid Coventry £500,000 for Morocco international Safri in June 2004.
19 07 2007
Norwich manager Peter Grant admitted that he is confused about the future of Youssef Safri.
The Moroccan midfielder was linked with a move away from Carrow Road with West Brom, Charlton and Southampton reported as probable suitors.
Safri has previously mentioned that he is unsure about where he will start next season.
Grant, though, has now said he is equally uncertain concerning the 30 year old's status due to the conflicting work of the player's agents.
"People have questioned the Safri situation," Grant informed the Eastern Daily Press.
"I have had one agent telling me Saf's staying here, then another agent mentioned that he does not represent him, so who does represent him? That is a question you will be asking about Saf, nobody knows."
Meanwhile, Grant has defended Darren Huckerby for his criticism of the club for selling their best players.
The forward's comments, which came after he watched Robert Earnshaw leave the club for Derby and Dickson Etuhu join Sunderland, have angered supporters and Canaries chief exec Neil Doncaster, however Grant sympathises with Huckerby.
"I understand Darren's frustration," Grant said. "He would like to play with the best players, I would like to be coaching the best players. He would like to be playing in the Premier League and that is where we all would like to be."
