Southampton have had several homegrown youngsters over recent years leave St Mary's behind for major bucks.
Tyler Dibling is the obvious example that sticks out, as he left the Saints behind last summer for an eye-watering £50m, after exploding into life in the first team picture under Russell Martin.
While the South Coast giants would have felt smug that they managed to get so much money for one of their own in this example, other youngsters do unfortunately fall to the wayside, before they can be utilised in the first team picture.
Alex Scott is a stinging case in this regard, as the current AFC Bournemouth star was on the Saints youth books at the raw age of 13, long before he became the Premier League ace he is now with the Cherries.
Scott's brief youth stay with the Saints
Scott has spoken on his very early footballing education on the South Coast.
At just eight years of age, the exciting midfielder would win himself a trial with the Saints, and he would play youth football in red and white until the age of 13.
Then, he would be picked up by the Cherries after being released by Southampton, with this release from the Championship club noted as being very "tough" on Scott when opening up on his early career just the other day on the official England national team website.
He has definitely bounced back from this minor setback, that's for sure, as he has recently won his first ever senior cap for England, when coming as a subsitute against Czech Republic in Nations League action.
Scott deserves this international recognition, too as he now has 14 goal contributions next to his name from 93 appearances for Bournemouth.
What. A. Moment. 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/9mHFCyxSMb
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) April 11, 2026
Eight of these goals and assists have fallen in the Premier League, with Alan Shearer - who was once a young, promising talent himself at St. Mary's - labelling his efforts last campaign as "superb" as he smashed home this memorable goal against Arsenal, among other notable moments.
The 23-year-old is certainly a player on the up, which must leave Southampton with some regrets about the kneejerk decision to release him, all those years ago.
He could soon be on the move away from the Vitality Stadium for a bumper amount, as well, to make the Saints' regrets even more weighty.
He could leave Bournemouth for £60m
Reports filtering through this international break suggest that Chelsea are very keen on landing the breakout number eight.
The Telegraph's Matt Law has speculated that Xabi Alonso's Blues are at the front of an ever-extending queue for Scott, who has also been subject to an alleged £60m bid in the past by the Stamford Bridge giants.
Clearly, Chelsea want to land the one-time Saints youngster, but Liverpool and Arsenal are noted as other interested parties, in Law's report.
To make matters even trickier for the West London titans, other reports suggest Real Madrid want to enter the transfer tussle for the two-time England international, with Los Blancos hardly shy to throw cash about when they're pursuing a target.
It's amazing the sudden rise Scott has experienced, with the Guernsey-born sensation only really getting his first senior opportunity at Bristol City in 2021, after walking away from the Cherries at 16 years of age.
Now, he's back at his boyhood side in Bournemouth and lighting up the Premier League, as Chelsea try to make him their next major signing.
Unfortunately, Southampton are just a very small footnote in his journey to the top...
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