Southampton have already lost several key players this summer…
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Southampton’s summer exodus is set to continue next week, with five of the club’s star players set to confirm their moves away from St Mary’s Stadium.
The Saints have already seen Rickie Lambert and former club captain Adam Lallana move to Liverpool during the current transfer window, while Luke Shaw has joined Manchester United. Manager Mauricio Pochettino has also gone to Tottenham, leaving new boss Ronald Koeman to pick up the pieces.
And now, not only are the Reds circling again – as they prepare to add two further Saints players to their squad – but both Arsenal and Inter Milan are also closing in on signing players from the South Coast club.
5) Calum Chambers (Arsenal)
England Under-19 international Chambers looks set to seal his £16m move to Arsenal, and the deal is likely to be completed early next week. The young right-back was impressive for the Saints last season, and will provide competition for another of the Gunners new signings, Mathieu Debuchy. The Gunners have a history of taking young talent from Southampton – Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – and developing them into fantastic players, they will hope that Chambers completes a trio of former Saints stars.
4) Dani Osvaldo (Inter Milan)
Inter Milan have emerged as the favourites to sign Southampton’s bad boy striker, who has made it clear that he will not be returning to the South Coast club following his ugly departure from the club in January. The Saints were forced to loan the player to Juventus following his training ground bust-up with Jose Fonte, while Osvaldo has since admitted that he had struggled to adapt to playing in England, describing English football as a “very physical type of game, with really tough tackling.”
3) Dejan Lovren (Liverpool)
The Croatian defender’s long discussed move to Liverpool now seems inevitable, with the Reds having a agreed a £20m fee for the 25-year-old. The deal is expected to be completed within the next 24 hours, although it is rumoured that the player will remain in England following his medical, rather than joining the Reds in America, where they are mid-way through a pre-season tour. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will be hoping that the player goes some way to reducing the defensive concerns that held them back last season.
2) Morgan Schneiderlin (Arsenal)
Southampton have attempted to raise their asking price for their 24-year-old French midfielder, who made his international debut during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, demanding that potential suitors Arsenal and Tottenham must pay £27m if they want to take the player to London. However, the player’s desire to play European football and further enhance his international chances is likely to be the decisive factor in forcing his eventual move, as well as the Gunners desire to sign a quality holding midfielder.
1) Jay Rodriguez (Liverpool)
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The England international will miss the start of the new season through injury, but that fact has not detracted interest in the player from several Premier League teams, with Liverpool rumoured to be particularly keen on forcing through a move as they look to fill the void left by the departure of Luis Suarez. Rodriguez’s versatility, and his ability to play out wide as well a central striker, is apparently the crucial factor, as Brendan Rodgers looks to build a squad capable of challenging on multiple fronts next season.