Former Southampton target Max Johnston feels likely to end up at a second division side, far away from his Italian Top Flight dream after rejecting the Saints' move.
Admit it or not, but yesterday's 1-1 result with Castellon has exposed the obvious shortcomings of Southampton's transfer window out and load now. And while the club has had a few additions to support themselves, their full-back failure is raising more and more eyebrows now.
To note, after the initial Max Johnston rejection, Saints haven't been competitive at all in their right-back operations. In fact, looking back, it's just embarrassing how they led rival clubs to take over their primary targets like Kesler-Hayden.
But if this full-back saga hasn't troubled the supporters enough, they are in for another update that will make them look even more foolish.
Johnston tipped to play second-tier football after rejecting Saints
That's because, having long declined Southampton for his Italian Top Flight aspirations, Max Johnston may end up in a foreign second division now.
Recently, Sky Sports confirmed the latest twist in Johnston's transfer race as Watford and Saint Etienne have emerged as new destinations for the 21-year-old. And shall the other suitors for Johnston slack their interest a bit, the right-back can kick off the next season a tier below the Top Flight.
Honestly, should it happen, Southampton would be the ones severely disappointed, even more than Johnston himself.
That's because, while both Watford and Saint Etienne aren't in any better position than Southampton, the former's situation falls way worse off than the Saints. Having scraped through relegation in the last Championship season, Watford has been struggling in a competition where Southampton enter as the go-to favourites.
Obviously, then, if Southampton's long-standing target, Max Johnston, joins hands with any of these second division clubs, it could be the biggest disgrace for the Saints this summer. Will the Saints supporters need to endure it helplessly? Let's see.