The hope would've been that Ross Stewart was going to put pen to paper on a Southampton extension this summer.
After all, the South Coast club had been very generous with their patience when it comes to the injury-prone striker, with the Scotsman absent for 79 games across the past three seasons, owing to recurring injury problems.
Unfortunately, Stewart has failed to agree a new deal, as per Southampton's retained list being officially released on social media, which will be a gutting blow, despite his regular status in the St. Mary's treatment room, as he bagged 11 goals last season as an impact presence for Tonda Eckert.
This thump to Southampton's confidence has been softened by James Bree agreeing a new deal until 2029, thankfully.
Moving back to Stewart, though, he will undoubtedly be snapped up by an EFL club who are willing to take a risk on a fragile yet fierce goalscorer, as the Saints go about licking their wounds from his sad departure.
Stewart's departure will hurt
Heading into the 2026/27 season, Southampton would have felt the combination of both Stewart and Cyle Larin up top, could be potentially "promotion-winning."
That's what Daily Echo journaist Alfie House had stated about the dynamic duo, but while Larin decided to stick it out on the South Coast after a nine-goal loan stint, Stewart has decided a change of scenery is what he wants, heading into the next campaign.
This decision will hurt, as he was a very reliable second-in-command striker to rely on, but this move to walk away from the Saints could mean the door opens for Cameron Archer to receive more minutes, as reserve players up their game in Eckert's camp.
A new striker will also be a summer priority, you imagine, but Stewart won't be dwelling on the circumstances of his Southampton exit for too long, as he's currently out at the World Cup with Steve Clarke's Scotland.
He has a World Cup to now focus on
Another disappointing aspect of the ex-Sunderland marksman's exit will be that he has slightly disrespected the club that has allowed him to be called up to Scotland's squad at the final hour.
Injury difficulties throughout his playing days have meant that the 29-year-old has only won three caps for his beloved nation, but off the back of an 11-goal spell last season, he has been given the nod to return to the international frame.
Understandably, Stewart noted that he was very "emotional" when he received this surprise call-up by Clarke, as the Irvine-born star now prepares for Scotland's opening match versus Haiti.
Cynically, he could well use this tournament as a way to put himself in the shop window, with Celtic already touted as one suitor circling for the potent EFL goalscorer.
Southampton fans will likely withhold their applause for Stewart when he does feature for Scotland, with Larin taking up more space in their heads, as he goes about entering into a red-hot streak of form for Canada.
The 29-year-old is unlikely to care about how he's viewed by the Saints masses, with the career of a footballer a short one.
For a player who has had so many injury problems, he will view this World Cup as a once-in-a-lifetime moment that could win him a huge move this summer, after breathing life back into his playing days on the South Coast.
In an alternate reality, he would be cheered on by a wave of Southampton fans on the world's biggest stage, after remaining loyal to the club that supported him during bleak times.
Instead, his future in the beautiful game is up in the air, as he goes about being his nation's darling as a free agent.
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