Manchester United signed Benjamin Sesko earlier this month but Southampton have felt the impact now with a Brazilian starlet swept from their books.
Being clouded by a triple striker exchange was one of the most surreal moments of Southampton's transfer window. For a few days, swapping attackers with Leeds United and Norwich felt doable.
Then doubts emerged whether the Saints can get a breakthrough for either of Adam Armstrong, Joel Piroe or Josh Sargent. Later, Southampton fans could do nothing than rub their eyes and still see all three of them standing by their respective clubs.
Luck doesn't seem to be in Southampton's court for such transfer loops, until now.
Well, I am not saying a striker is ready to ring the door-bell like Mads Roerslev did yesterday. Instead, we have lost hold of an underrated prospect all thanks to Manchester United.
Red Devils raiding Leipzig translated to Southampton losing Juan
Everything began with the Red Devils recruiting Benjamin Sesko from Bundesliga side Leipzig. Now, the German outfit has never bought a single player from the Saints, according to FBref stats, so them substituting Sesko using a Championship star from St. Mary's was always a long shot from reality.
In turn, they opted to ring the transfer heads at sister club Goztepe and left the conversation by bagging Romulo. Now, Southampton aren't distanced from Goztepe unlike Leipzig, and in the words of journalist Orcun Akten: "Goztepe acquired Juan's transfer fee from Southampton and signed a contract with the player until 2029."
There are more than ample forwards with Still, got it. But selling an identical profile attacker to the Turkish side when they have cashed in huge on Romulo, is a future profit sale lost on Juan.
Loaning him for a season or half, could have catered well for Goztepe. But allowing them to have the giant share of an eventual windfall is just carelessness at its peak from Southampton.