Southampton's game-changing £168m transfer window predicted with Man Utd, Chelsea and Leeds deals
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Southampton’s big return to the Premier League will see Russell Martin take his side to Newcastle United when the new season gets underway on Saturday week.
The Saints boss has already been active in the transfer window as he looks to build on the momentum gained by the narrow Championship play-off win against Leeds United. Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes have made permanent moves to the club after successful loan spells and Chile international striker Ben Brereton-Diaz was also brought in after he opted to return to the Premier League from Spanish club Villarreal.
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Hide AdAdam Lallana and Charlie Taylor were secured on free transfers and Nathan Wood and Ronnie Edwards have agreed to step into the top flight from Swansea City and Peterborough United. Martin has also cleared out some of his squad with the likes of Lyanco, Duje Caleta-Car, Romain Perraud, Che Adams and Stuart Armstrong all left the club.
But what other business could be conducted throughout the remaining weeks of the transfer window? We fired up Football Manager 2024 to see how the world’s most popular managerial simulation predicts the coming weeks will pan out at St. Mary’s Stadium.
Goalkeepers
There were no new arrivals in the goalkeeping department but there was a departure as Mateusz Liz made a low cost move back to Poland as he joined Lech Poznan.
Martin’s goalkeeping options: Bazunu, Lumley, McCarthy.
Defenders


There were two additions to Martin’s defensive ranks as the Saints boss won the race to sign free agent Mario Hermoso following his departure from La Liga giants Atletico Madrid and then handed over £15m to secure the signing of Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah. There were departures as James Bree and Ryan Manning agreed respective season-long loan deals with Preston North End and Hull City on the final day of the window and Armel Bella-Kotchap joined Bayer Leverkusen in a £7m deal.
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Hide AdMartin’s defensive options: Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood, Edwards, Stephens, Larios, Taylor, Walker-Peters, Sugawara, Hermoso, Chalobah.
Midfielders
The only incoming in the middle of the park was a big one as Martin completed the £31m addition of Manchester United and Scotland star Scott McTominay after having two previous bids rejected by the Red Devils. The Saints boss then made £12m from the sales of Carlos Alcaraz and Joe Aribo to Boca Juniors and Al-Ettifaq respectively. The latter of those deals saw Aribo reunited with his former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard at the Saudi Pro League club.
Martin’s midfield options: Charles, Downes, Smallbone, Lallana, McTominay.
Forwards


It was a case of two-out, one in for the attacking options in Martin’s squad. Out went Paul Onuachu to Belgian side Club Brugge in a £4m deal and Sekou Mara joined Rennes after a £10m agreement between the two clubs. Martin went big once again with their replacement as he raided Championship play-off final opponents Leeds United for Georgino Rutter.
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Hide AdMartin’s forward options: Sulemana, Brereton-Diaz, Edozie, Armstrong, Stewart, Rutter.
Ins
Harwood-Bellis (£18m from Manchester City), Downes (£13m from West Ham United), Brereton-Diaz (£5.5m from Villarreal), Sugawara (£4m from AZ Alkmaar), Wood (£2.5m from Swansea City), Edwards (£2.5m from Peterborough United), Taylor (free from Burnley), Lallana (free from Brighton and Hove Albion), Hermoso (free from Atletico Madrid), McTominay (£31m from Manchester United), Chalobah (£15m from Chelsea), Rutter (£34m from Leeds United)
Out
Lyanco (£3.5m to Atletico-MG), Caleta-Car (£2.5m to Lyon), Perraud (£2.5m to Real Betis), Che Adams (free to Torino), Armstrong (released), Onuachu (£4m to Club Brugge), Mara (£10m to Rennes), Alcaraz (£8m to Boca Juniors), Bella-Kotchap (7m to Bayer Leverkusen), Aribo (£4m to Al-Ettifaq), Bree (loan to Preston North End), Manning (loan to Hull City), Lis (£500,000 to Lech Poznan)
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