Southampton: High transfer cost sees Saints move on from McKennie

Southampton have reportedly halted their pursuit of Schalke 04 midfielder Weston McKennie due to the high cost of a potential transfer.

According to multiple sources including Sky Sport Germany and BBC Radio Solent’s Adam Blackmore, the transfer fee and wage demands have put Saints off and they will not be making a move for the American this summer.

McKennie’s wage demands are unknown but Sky Sport Germany’s report confirms that the asking price from Schalke was 25 million euros – a fee that could have eclipsed Saints’ club record transfer fee.

Given that there have been financial strains brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic and that Saints look to have already committed £23m towards moves for Mohammed Salisu and Kyle Walker-Peters, it is understandable that they felt they could not meet these demands.

They have made big money signings in the past that have not paid off and look to be keen to get back to what they were good at – bringing in young players with great potential for smaller fees and moulding them into a great Premier League team.

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Clearly at just 21-years-old, McKennie himself would fit into the category of players with great potential too.

The fact that Schalke are an established club with a deep history in Europe despite slipping down the Bundesliga table is perhaps going against Saints in this situation though. They will also know that they have player in demand on their books.

Saints will surely still bring in a midfield option to complement their squad before the beginning of the 2020’/21 season.

Adam Blackmore has confirmed that this is an area of the team they are looking to strengthen in, and the club have been linked with players such as Celtic’s Olivier Ntcham and Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher.

It remains to be seen who they will move for, but a window in which Salisu, Walker-Peters and a midfield option are signed would be an excellent one for Ralph Hasenhuttl.