Kyle Walker-Peters is the only Southampton player that fans are really concerned about losing this summer.
Russell Martin has already seen Romain Perraud and Lyanco sold, whilst Che Adams and Stuart Armstrong both left following the end of their contracts early in the summer.
Southampton want to make more sales, with the likes of Paul Onuachu and Armel Bella-Kotchap both expected to depart this summer.
However one player they do not want to lose is Kyle Walker-Peters; the right-back who was key to promotion from the Championship last season.
Walker-Peters’ situation is a complicated one, though, as the player has now entered the final year of his contract and the likes of Brighton, Tottenham and West Ham have all been linked with a move this summer.
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That speculation has meant Walker-Peters only got his first taste of pre-season football against Getafe on Saturday, but his return to the team means Martin now knows his best side for the season-opener against Newcastle on Saturday.
Kyle Walker-Peters will start for Southampton against Newcastle if still at club
Up until the Getafe match, it had been viewed as too risky to play Walker-Peters amid such intense interest in his signing.
Southampton are keen to avoid a repeat of the situation that saw them lose both Adams and Armstrong for free this summer so it is not ideal that Walker-Peters has less than a year left on his current deal.
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The fact is that the twice-capped England international is still at the club and he therefore needed some game time ahead of Newcastle next weekend as, if he is available, he has to start for the Saints.
This also gives Martin a boost as it resolves the left of his defence, with one of the things that makes Walker-Peters so valuable is his ability to play on both sides.
That should mean that the starting XI in the 0-0 draw with Getafe will not change for Newcastle, with a back five of Yukinari Sugawara at right wingback, Walker-Peters at left wingback and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens forming the central defensive trio.
Southampton should expect Tottenham to return for Walker-Peters
The good news for Southampton is that West Ham – whose interest in Walker-Peters was most concrete – now look set to complete a deal for Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the same position.
Whilst that is a relief, the saga is far from over with Tottenham now likely to revive their interest and Spurs could be an attractive proposition as the club at which Walker-Peters started his career.
That is because Tottenham are close to securing a deal that sees back-up right-back Emerson Royal move to AC Milan and Ange Postecoglou will undoubtedly want a replacement.
It was reported earlier in the summer that Spurs view Walker-Peters as a low-cost option, meaning Southampton should brace themselves for a fresh approach before the transfer window slams shut on August 30.