Southampton were rejected by Eduard Spertsyan and fans might have closed that chapter for the better but Spertsyan is still undecided on his initial response.
First right-back and now left-wing, Southampton fans can clearly see the growing cracks in the roster's wide areas. If Saints believe Ryan Fraser can still deliver the goods, then it's two players a piece in those two positions.
Not wishing, but if things go south, then it'll be all lace up out of position players and hope they hold the flanks sharp. Something, like central defenders on the right and strikers up left which is all thanks to a squad overloaded with names in the centre.
An area where many players turned down Southampton but few realised there was hardly any real need for them in the first place. Eduard Spertsyan was among the polite no-sayers, though he still appears to be lingering longer than the Saints did.
As quoted by Armenie Football: "The player has decided to consider the option of Southampton, after having declined a few weeks ago. The English club offered €12.5M to Krasnodar."
Spertsyan's brisk no has jeopardized his Southampton chances
Well, if Spertsyan had been a natural wide midfielder, then he would have held the keys to this potential move more than Southampton. But offering false nine services when Mateus Fernandes is the orchestrator of the attack, will only make Spertsyan having to compete with Mateus.
And mind it, but that would be an uneven competition with the Armenian ace hoping for Mateus' downfall and countless run of superb displays from him. It's a bleak probability even if he gets the privilege of walking in as Southampton's most expensive summer signing.
Nothing must be discarded but Spertsyan's approval has come too late, and last-minute rushes as well as final month big signings have something in common. They don't get the time to adapt to their new team, and it tends to leave both the player and the buying outfit with a bitter aftertaste.