Former Southampton target Josip Brekalo joins Real Oviedo as a free agent from Torino, and the Saints would be acknowledging their luck to have avoided another Mislav Orsic-like flop story.
Let's be all honest, every Saints fan has at least given a rethink to their failed Shankland pursuit after club icon Le Tiss' comment. But even more than rueing for the potential Hearts captain's addition, doesn't Saints ending their summer window with just a bare forward recruit surprise?
Definitely, a big managerial turnaround has been a reason, but a comparatively silent national break ahead of this window has proven key.
Backtracking, nobody has forgotten the chunk of signings, and hence the tons of flops Saints brought in last summer, with the Euros officiating its beginning. Interestingly, the insight just grows sharper as one revisits the 2023 winter window.
That's because, fresh from the Mega World Cup 2022 event, Southampton not only went on a forward spree, but focussing on exactly parallel profiles too. And nothing better has it recorded than the Orsic-Brekalo saga.
History has it that even after finalising Orsic, the Saints were eager to bring his younger compatriot Josip Brekalo in the very same role. Well, and while losing that transfer race to Fiorentina stung in the moment, it now feels a blessing in disguise to have happened.
That's for, similar to Orsic's failed St. Mary's spell, Brekalo too never took off in the Serie A. Fast forward to now, the 27-year-old wraps up his Italian stint, which saw him witness multiple loans within a little over 2 years.
Southampton dodged a flop in Brekalo's transfer loss
Recently, Transfer Expert Fabrizio Romano pulled back the veil on his next spell, quoting: "Real Oviedo agree deal to sign Josip Brekalo on free transfer, here we go! Croatian winger to travel this week for medical and contract signing."
Looking back on what's happened, Saints would be disappointed for the 27-year-old, but deep inside, they will be thanking their fate out loud. After all, having endured a Croatian winger flop in Orsic, nobody knows the frustrations that would be mounted if it were to be the same with Brekalo.
That's why, while some may consider the player's recent free agency an opportunity missed, Southampton will welcome the consequence. And rightly so, as though his signing wouldn't have cost a dime, re-trusting a failed player takes a mental toll too difficult at times to overcome.
Nonetheless, being an ex-Saints target, let's hope Oviedo gets to see Brekalo's true genius, which Fiorentina weren't able to. Meanwhile, the focus must turn back to former star, Romeu, who may be in Brekalo's previous situation soon.