Fresh reports that Aaron Ramsdale has been made available for loan signals a change in approach that may have significant risks attached for the Saints.
Talk Sport have indicated that both Galatasaray and Rangers are poised to take a punt on the former Arsenal and England goalkeeper, if Southampton agree to a loan.
Understandably, Ramsdale will not want to be regarded as a Championship level goalkeeper next season, especially as Thomas Tuchel pieces together his World Cup squad. A move to a club playing in the top tier in either Turkey or Scotland could be more beneficial for him in the short term.
A loan move could be a win-win situation for the Saints
On the surface this could be a win-win situation. First, Southampton would not have to pay the wages for the player (one assumes) while he is out on a season long loan. The second big plus is that the player could be available to rejoin the squad at the end of the loan period, so long as an option to buy is not part of the loan agreement.
And, if things go to plan, that could mean playing for a Southampton team who have been promoted back to the Premier League. Even Saints' owner Dragan Solak has hinted at the possibility of Ramsdale returning to the club if they are promoted.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Any loan deal for Ramsdale would not come without huge risks. Firstly, the absence of an upfront transfer fee would not only adversely affect the club's profit and sustainability rating (PSR), but also it could limit the funds available to purchase a long term replacement.
Secondly, Ramsdale's reputation (despite being relegated) remains good. Consequently, his value is still close to the £18 million plus add-ons that Saints paid for him last summer. Should Ramsdale have a poor season with a loan club, his value may begin to slide. Not only that, teams would be less inclined to match the wages that Ramsdale is currently on at Southampton. As the lenders are always quick to point out to potential investors, values can go up or down.
Lastly, any loan deal for Ramsdale is sure to come with an option to buy. While this could be great news for Southampton if they are staring at a second season in the Championship, losing Ramsdale to another top flight club would be a bitter pill to swallow if the Saints get promoted.
Labelling a key player and prize asset as 'available for loan' is concerning
What is perhaps most concerning for Saints fans is that Sport Republic have made the mistake of labelling a key player and prize asset as 'available for loan'. This transfer policy smacks of desperation on their part as they face the realisation that few clubs are likely to be able to afford to buy Ramsdale and those that can, don't appear to want him.
Ramsdale has been linked with moves to West Ham, Newcastle, and Manchester United this summer but none of those rumours have come to fruition as of yet. Leeds United are the latest club to be linked. Making the shot-stopper available for loan may just be the equivalent of Sport Republic going all in on a pair of Jacks: it's quite a risky move.
If the board decide that making a key player available for loan is the right way to go with Ramsdale, it could signal a change in approach in relation to other players with potentially high transfer values. The likes of Tyler Dibling, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Mateus Fernandes could all become players who are potentially made available for loan. The medium-term goal of bringing them back into the fold in the Premiership, or cashing in on them if Saints miss out on promotion, would presumably be the strategy.
The strategy of loaning out key players could heap a huge amount of pressure on the remains of a dejected squad to get the club promoted. Furthermore, it ties up funds that would otherwise be made available for fresh transfers and strengthening in weaker areas.