It looks like another bleak summer on the south coast.
Southampton are bracing themselves to lose another cluster of first-team players, just as they did last summer, according to the Sun.
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Ronald Koeman’s side currently lie seventh in the Premier League, and have arguably been the surprise package of the season, but that will not stop them losing Morgan Schneiderlin, Nathaniel Clyne, Toby Alderweireld, and Jay Rodriguez when the transfer window opens.
Midfielder Schneiderlin seems the most likely to leave St Mary’s, with Arsenal and Manchester United lining to make a multi-million bid for the 25-year-old French international. He expressed his disappointment at not being allowed to leave last year, but put that behind him to help guide the Saints up the table. However, the Saints now look unlikely to secure Champions League football, meaning his desire to leave could reignited.
Clyne has not publicly revealed his eagerness to move on, but the right-back has stalled on signing a new contract, and has been pinpointed by Louis van Gaal as a potential solution to the problematic position at Old Trafford, but it may require a bid of £15m to prise the 23-year-old away. Koeman has admitted that the contract situation with Clyne is not ideal.
“We’d like to know a decision on his future. I can understand if there is interest from other clubs,” he explained.
La Liga winner Alderweireld may only be on loan with the Saints, but a future fee has been agreed with parent club Atletico Madrid, which would require the Spanish club to pay £1.5m to cancel. But with Tottenham and Manchester City looking at the Belgian, they may be willing to pay that fee as they feel they could get more than the £6.3m agreed with Southampton.
Striker Rodriguez has been out for nearly a year with a knee injury, and that arguably was the only stumbling block on him linking up with old boss Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham. It is uncertain whether he will be in Koeman’s plans once fully fit – especially after such a long lay-off – and the prospect of lining up alongside Harry Kane may prove too irresistible to the former Burnley frontman.