Southampton owners Sport Republic are working hard to put right some of the mistakes of previous transfer windows this summer.
Sport Republic completed their takeover of Southampton in January 2023, adopting a club who had received little investment in the previous few seasons but managed to keep their heads above water in the Premier League.
Not long after a year later, they were relegated after a season which saw the club get through three managers and break their record transfer fee on Kamaldeen Sulemana who managed just two goals; both on the final day of the season when a 20th-place finish was long-since guaranteed.
Following relegation a reset was needed, with the appointment of Russell Martin a key part of that.
A change in philosophy on the pitch was combined with a new approach off it and Sport Republic had the unenviable task of trying to remove the deadwood from a squad that was full of it.
Sport Republic unable to sell players with no Southampton future last summer
Last season was an incredibly busy one, as is always the way following relegation, and Southampton saw 18 players depart, with six of those on loan.
High-value assets such as James Ward-Prowse, Tino Livramento, Romeo Lavia and Nathan Tella were all sold, but the Saints struggled to permanently move on players that clearly felt their future lay elsewhere.
Much of that is down to the fact the club had paid a sizeable fee for those players just a summer previous and therefore were opposed to letting them leave for a loss.
This is understandable, but ultimately the best solution would have been to secure permanent exits for players who were clear they did not see themselves playing for the club again.
Paul Onuachu, Duje Caleta-Car and Armel Bella-Kotchap had all been at the club for less than a year by last summer but pushed for an exit.
None of the three left permanently, though, joining Trabzonspor, Lyon and PSV respectively.
Now, Sport Republic are putting that right ahead of a return to the Premier League in which bringing in funds will allow investment into Martin’s squad.
Southampton complete Duje Caleta-Car sale to Lyon
Caleta-Car is an example of a transfer that should have been a decent addition but simply did not work out.
The Croatia international signed from Marseille ahead of the 2022/23 season for £8 million but started just nine Premier League games as Southampton were relegated with a whimper.
Having spent last season on loan at Lyon, the French club have now triggered the option to make the deal permanent for £5 million.
Whilst this represents a £3 million loss on the defender, it is £5 million more in the transfer kitty that Southampton can now reinvest.
Sport Republic have already sold Romain Perraud to Real Betis for £3 million this summer after the Frenchman spent last season on loan at Nice and are looking to secure permanent moves away for Paul Onuachu, Lyanco and Bella-Kotchap too.
- READ MORE: Sport Republic offered chance to finally ditch £18m Southampton flop in three-player swap
Carlos Alcaraz is another who could leave, but Southampton will only sell for a significant profit on the £12 million he was signed for in January 2023 with the Argentine one of few players to have actually increased in value.
Whilst everyone wants to focus on incomings ahead of the Premier League return, Sport Republic deserve credit for the work they are doing to rectify the club’s previous transfer mistakes.