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Southampton: Should the Saints capitalize on Sporting’s crisis?

By Chris Hughes

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 05: Bas Dost of Sporting CP reacts during the UEFA Europa League quarter final leg one match between Club Atletico Madrid and Sporting CP at Wanda Metropolitano stadium on April 5, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 05: Bas Dost of Sporting CP reacts during the UEFA Europa League quarter final leg one match between Club Atletico Madrid and Sporting CP at Wanda Metropolitano stadium on April 5, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) /
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In the past day or so it’s been announced that as many as six first-team players from Sporting Lisbon have terminated their own contracts.

This comes as part of months of reported chaos at the Portuguese club, with supporters attacking players, and the squad all getting banned for a month after an argument with the club’s president.

As a result some of their best and even longest-serving players have apparently terminated their contracts with the club, something totally unheard of in today’s game. The only memory I have of something similar happening was Rangers went under back in 2012 and when the owner of Russian side Anzhi sold all of their expensive talent a few seasons ago. Both examples however are nothing like this!

Whilst it’s never nice to see and must be horrible for the fans involved, there is potentially some real talent up for grabs for no more than an agents fee.

Whilst some of the talent will be well beyond Southampton’s reach – Bruno Fernandes has previously been valued at £40 million whilst Gelson Martins has already been linked with Tottenham – there is still potential for Southampton to try and grab themselves a bargain.

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LISBON, PORTUGAL – MARCH 08: Gelson Martins of Sporting Lisbon reacts during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 first leg match between Sporting Lisbon and Viktoria Plzen at Estadio Jose Alvalade on March 8, 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
LISBON, PORTUGAL – MARCH 08: Gelson Martins of Sporting Lisbon reacts during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 first leg match between Sporting Lisbon and Viktoria Plzen at Estadio Jose Alvalade on March 8, 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images) /

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Bas Dost is among those players who have cited a ‘just cause’ clause having suffered a serious blow to the head in the training ground attack – whilst he may not be as highly-rated as William Carvalho he has scored a goal a game in the league since joining Lisbon two seasons ago, with an exact record of 61 goals in 61 matches.

The Dutchman is a strong, physical striker who can header the ball – he ticks all the boxes for a new forward this summer if Gabbiadini and/or Carrillo move on. If he can be signed on a free transfer, it could prove an incredible deal for Les Reed and co.

In addition, Daniel Podence is another player who has left Sporting this month – he doesn’t come with as much of a pedigree as the other candidates but could be another steal for the Saints.

He made his first senior appearance this past season after a successful loan away – he played 20 games and whilst he failed to score he still has bags of potential at just 22.

Finally, two more of the side’s newest additions – Argentinian duo Rodrigo Battaglia and Marcos Acuna – could both be following in their teammates footsteps in leaving Sporting.

The former could prove a great replacement for Mario Lemina is the Gabonese international does leave the Saints, whilst Acuna plays in a similar position to Gelson Martins and Podence so would be of great use to Southampton.

Whilst this must be absolutely horrible for those supporters who aren’t part of the minority involved in the attack, Southampton would be foolish to not at least explore the possibility of bringing some of this talent to the south coast.