7 Southampton stars set for transfers as Premier League clubs take advantage of drop

Southampton are braced for a tumultuous summer with nothing certain as they drop back into the Championship following a miserable season in the . are rock bottom and still need a point from their remaining four games to surpass of 11, set back in 2007/08.

They are currently without a full-time manager after . Interim boss Simon Rusk is leading the team at present, assisted by Adam Lallana, but is not expected to get the job for the 2025/26 season, with and Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl among those being considered.

To make matters worse, there are rumours swirling that just over three years after backing Sport Republic’s takeover of the club. It is a bleak picture – and one which will be exploited by their rivals.

Relegation always brings about change and ’s situation means that there will be more of it than usual. While many players will be released or sold – having been deemed simply not good enough following a desperate campaign – there are some who will attract serious attention and demand decent transfer fees.

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Top of that list is Tyler Dibling, Saints’ stand-out player who has turned the heads of numerous scouts this season. The 19-year-old may only have two goals and an assist in 30 Premier League appearances this season, but those stats do nothing to illustrate his talent.

The academy graduate has a rare dribbling ability – think crossed with Morgan Rogers – and Southampton are well aware of the interest and on their most-prized asset. , , , and have all been named in reports and it will be interesting to see what the summer holds for Dibling, who is clearly capable of playing at Premier League level.

Aaron Ramsdale only joined Southampton in August for £25m from , but now looks set to leave after racking up his fourth relegations in seven years with four different clubs. That stat is harsh on the goalkeeper, who has made some stunning saves over the season and has been protected by a non-existent defence at times. , who could replace Andre Onana, as well as and .

Southampton’s versatile full-back Kyle Walker-Peters is also likely to stay in the Premier League this summer. His contract expires at the end of June and he will leave Saints with their best wishes, having been an outstanding performer over the past five years. are interested and have tried to get ahead of the competition by making contact with his representatives, according to News.

Another player who has stood out, despite playing in a poor side, is Mateus Fernandes. Southampton may well be keen to keep hold of the Portuguese midfielder, having only signed him from Sporting Lisbon last summer, but that may prove difficult in the Championship. The 20-year-old’s tenacity and box-to-box ability has provided some of the brightest sparks for them this season.

Paul Onuachu has had a strange Saints career. Signed as a £18m panic buy from Genk in January 2023, he barely played as they were relegated that season and was then sent on loan to Trabzonspor, where he scored prolifically, during their promotion-achieving Championship season. The gigantic striker has been back in favour more recently, but transfer interest from Turkey is likely to lead to a permanent move elsewhere, with Saints keen to cash in on whichever assets they can.

Armel Bella-Kotchap has had an even stranger Southampton career. At times he was excellent during their 2022/23 Premier League campaign and he earned two caps for Germany, with his star seemingly on the rise. But derailed his career last summer and he has been a peripheral figure this season. With a year left on his contract, a transfer to Germany appears a likely conclusion.

Despite him playing a role in their promotion from the Championship, Southampton decided to send Samuel Edozie out on loan to Anderlecht in September. He still has another two years on his Saints deal, but a permanent move away from the club would suit all parties this summer as Southampton conduct a squad overhaul.

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