Southampton's Jesurun Rak-Sakyi confidence has vanished within a week as Russell Martin's actions have given the Saints a bitter dose of reality.
Monday kicked off with Southampton receiving a Jesurun Rak-Sakyi compliment from one of the best all-time scouts in business. But the best part of the statement was that the Saints could get their left flank upgraded for cheap, when getting a bargain on a Premier League talent is a true rarity nowadays.
Just north of a couple of days have passed, and the compliment has flipped upside down. The bold claim has turned out to be a myth with former Southampton boss Russell Martin playing the myth-breaker role.
The once-Saints leader led the Rak-Sakyi chase as an example so that Southampton shouldn't have to do it themselves. Yes, his current club were denied and bizarrely, at the same figure Southampton were backed to clean sweep their competition.
Signing Rak-Sakyi is almost an impossible dream for Southampton
As quoted by The Athletic, David Ornstein said: "The approach from the Scottish Premiership club was for an initial loan with a potential obligation to buy worth up to £10million. The offer was rejected by Palace but Rangers' pursuit of the 22-year-old remains ongoing and there is interest from elsewhere."
I know, Rangers bravely spreading half of their transfer warchest on Rak-Sakyi is a surprise for the Saints but it doesn't hold much meaning as long as they can't finance a deal within their summer constraints.
Meanwhile Southampton have got some transfer funds they can pay without recording a negative for this window but how far will they wish to take it?
On paper, the £18m Gueye demand should be the ceiling for a Rak-Sakyi proposal. Still, don't start daydreaming yet, as a bright Premier League start in August can see a rigid not-for-sale message placed on the 22-year-old.