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Making the Grade: Southampton Transfer Window Summer 2016

By Aaron Preston

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Preimer Leauge footballs on the ptich prior to kick off during the Premier League match between Southampton and Sunderland at St Mary's Stadium on August 27, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Preimer Leauge footballs on the ptich prior to kick off during the Premier League match between Southampton and Sunderland at St Mary's Stadium on August 27, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /
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Out: Sadio Mane

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MAY 01: Sadio Mane of Southampton (10) celebrates as he scores his second goal and his team’s third during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary’s Stadium on May 1, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MAY 01: Sadio Mane of Southampton (10) celebrates as he scores his second goal and his team’s third during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary’s Stadium on May 1, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

Position: Striker/Winger

Purchased: 2014, £11.8m (Red Bull Salzburg)

Sold To: Liverpool, £34m

Sadio Mane came to Southampton in 2014 and quickly established himself as a force on the attacking wings. Thriving under Ronald Koeman’s system, he and Italian striker Graziano Pelle tied last year for top scorer, each netting 10 goals.

As much as Saints fans wanted to believe otherwise, Mane’s talent made him not long for the South Coast. For now, the team is still considered by many to be a springboard to bigger stages elsewhere, and it came as little surprise when the Senegalese international wanted to move on.

The destination was a familiar one for Southampton alumni: Anfield, and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. For the trouble, Southampton netted a team-record £34m for their striker. Not a bad bit of business at all, for the services rendered.

Grade: 10/10

Out: Gaston Ramirez

MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Gaston Ramirez of Southampton charges through the MK Dons defence during the Capital One Cup third round match between MK Dons and Southampton at Stadium mk on September 23, 2015 in Milton Keynes, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Gaston Ramirez of Southampton charges through the MK Dons defence during the Capital One Cup third round match between MK Dons and Southampton at Stadium mk on September 23, 2015 in Milton Keynes, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images) /

Position: Attacking Midfield

Purchased: 2012, £12m (Bologna)

Sold To: N/A (Released, acquired by Middlesbrough)

Sigh. Not much to be said here, except that Southampton don’t have the best record with record-breaking transfers. Ramirez joined from Serie A side Bologna but never quite clicked. Through 48 appearances over two years with the club, the Uruguayan scored 6 goals but didn’t impress enough to crack the starting XI.

The 2014 campaign saw him out on loan at Hull City, in the Tigers’ ultimately unsuccessful Premier League campaign; he managed only a single goal that year. He would return briefly to Southampton before going back out on loan in the second half of the 2015/16 year, this time to Middlesbrough. Despite helping the Smoggies back to the Premiership, he was deemed surplus to requirements and his contract allowed to expire at the end of last season.

Middlesbrough made a smart move, one of many this window, in picking Ramirez up on a free. Given the circumstances, Southampton could have at least recouped some of its losses on him.

Grade: 2/10