Southampton are the definition of a selling club.
The Saints have a world class academy system, allowing them to produce top class talent, which they ultimately sell, along with any other players who attract attention from a bigger club.
While there is no doubting that what Southampton do is great business, it is difficult not to wonder where they would be now had they kept hold of their star names.
The South Coast club have never finished in the Premier League’s top six.
However, we reckon they would have a shot at competing with England’s big boys with this starting XI, which is made up entirely of players that they have sold or released in the past 10 years.
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Goalkeeper: Paul Smith – departed in 2006
The 34-year-old, who joined Nottingham Forest for £500,000 in 2006 and now plays for Southend, is easily the weakest member of this XI.
However, he is an adequate shot stopper and the players in front of him more than compensate for his lack of star power.
Left-back: Luke Shaw – departed in 2014
The 19-year-old England international is the world’s most expensive teenager, having signed for Manchester United in a £27m deal last month.
Right-back: Calum Chambers – departed in 2014
Arsenal shelled out around £15m for Chambers earlier this week. The 19-year-old made 22 Premier League appearances for Southampton last term.
Centre-back: Dejan Lovren – departed in 2014
Croatia international Lovren joined Southampton from Lyon for £8.5m last summer, impressing in 31 Premier League starts before leaving for Liverpool. The Saints made an £11.5m profit on the 25-year-old.
Centre-back: Mike Williamson – departed in 2005
Southampton paid Torquay United £100,000 for Williamson, but they let him leave to join Wycombe Wanderers on a free transfer four years later.
After making over 100 league appearances for the Chairboys, Williamson moved to Newcastle United in 2010, via Watford and Portsmouth. He has played 135 first-team games for the Magpies.
Left wing: Gareth Bale – departed in 2007
Now the most expensive footballer in the world, having left Tottenham Hotspur for Real Madrid in an £80m switch last summer, Bale, 25, has already won the Champions League.
Right wing: Theo Walcott – departed in 2006
Walcott is one of the fastest players on the planet. He has a keen eye for goal too, having netted 69 times for the Gunners.
Central midfield: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – departed in 2011
Aptly nicknamed the Ox, the 20-year-old is incredibly fit and strong. The Arsenal star would be the main man in this team’s midfield engine room.
Central midfield: Adam Lallana – departed in 2014
Liverpool new boy Lallana was Southampton’s captain before the Anfield outfit swooped for his services. The 26-year-old can operate in various midfield positions.
He played in all 38 of Southampton’s Premier League games last season, scoring nine goals and providing six assists
Striker: Rickie Lambert – departed in 2014
Lambert netted 13 Premier League goals and made 10 assists last season. He made his senior international debut for England in 2013 and, to date, he has scored three times in seven games for the Three Lions.
Striker: Peter Crouch – departed in 2005
Liverpool took Crouch away from St Mary’s. He has since played for Portsmouth, Tottenham and Stoke City.
Perhaps not the most fashionable player, but the giant forward would surely thrive on the service provided by Bale and Walcott.
Crouch has scored 22 senior international goals in 42 appearances for England.