Southampton set to complete 12th summer transfer with deal close

Southampton are set to complete their 12th summer transfer window deal with the signing of highly-rated youth talent Tino Livramento from Chelsea.

Reports broke on Sunday evening and confirmed that Saints were close to a deal. The Daily Mail’s Adrian Kajumba was first to reveal the news, with other reporters filling in with extra information afterwards. The fee to be paid to Chelsea is expected to be £5m.

A further report from Tom Leach of Hampshire Live suggests that Chelsea are set to have buy-back and sell-on clauses inserted in Livramento’s Saints contract, whilst Tom Barclay of the Sun reveals that a fee of almost £40m will have to be paid to Saints for the 18-year-old to return to Stamford Bridge in the future.

Despite his tender years, Livramento became a regular for Chelsea’s Under-23s in the 2020/21 season and crowned a promising campaign when he was named as the Blues’ Academy Player of the Year. He is capable of playing as a winger or a right-back and will provide good competition in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s plans.

Southampton securing some special talent as academy revamp continues

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When Saints are able to confirm the Livramento deal, he will join his former Chelsea Under-23s teammate Dynel Simeu on the South Coast.

Chances for youth talent at Stamford Bridge are few and far between given Chelsea’s need for first-team ready players all the time, but more opportunities could be found at clubs like Saints.

Livramento and Simeu will join Romain Perraud and Theo Walcott as permanent arrivals at St Mary’s this summer. Kayne Ramsay, Jake Vokins, Angus Gunn, Wesley Hoedt, Alex Jankewitz, Dan N’Lundulu, Mario Lemina and Callum Slattery have all departed on permanent or loan deals.

Olly Lancashire also arrived but is set to remain as a B team player to aid the development of youth talent.

Having seen their own academy production fall away and post-Brexit transfer laws limit youth transfers from abroad, Saints look to have taken a different path. If they can secure a few more players who will not have chances at other clubs, they could see some real talent start to push through.

Importantly, Hampshire Live suggest that Livramento will be part of Saints’ first-team plans for this coming season whilst Simeu will look to continue his development with the club’s B team.

Director of Football Operations Matt Crocker is said to be a key player at the centre of the academy revamp and could see many of his techniques from his time at the FA bear fruit in the future.