Tonda Eckert's comments about transfers rarely instil confidence that he knows what is truly going on in Johannes Spors' mind. He has deferred to the sporting director on numerous occasions, indicating that it is the job of the scouts under the guidance of Spors to identify and recruit players.
That of course is the modern way in football management. Perhaps the popular football management simulation, Football Manager (Championship Manager to us oldies), should be renamed First Team Head Coach, such is the shift in responsibilities and duties of the boss these days.
One thing that Eckert and Spors can agree on is that players are likely to depart during this window. According to the former, in Wednesday's press conference, “some bits are moving forward.“
Two players have been sucking the financial lifeblood
Those 'bits' must surely involve Samuel Edozie and Joe Aribo. These two have been sucking the blood of the Southampton finances dry since the season began. Edozie has made only a single pre-season appearance, where he looked lively against Eastleigh.
At least Aribo has made an attempt to be included in the matchday squad. It seems almost laughable now that Will Still's final act in a desperate attempt to save his job was to throw Aribo on against Preston North End in the dying seconds. It was like putting your faith in a cat to look after a goldfish.
Eckert also tried (and failed) to get an ounce of effort out of Aribo in the early days of his interim period as Head Coach. When Aribo turned his back on Caleb Taylor's 30-yard pile driver against Millwall, Southampton fans had seen enough.
At a reported £70,000 a week, it is obvious that Aribo is simply running down his contract. In June, he will be free to leave, and he will have cost the club a fortune in the meantime.
Edozie is a different kettle of fish altogether. What he is doing, holding out for a move, is mind-boggling. Currently being paid £15,000 a week, Southampton could afford to make the youngster wait and see out his contract until June 2027.
Selling Edozie is the only option for two reasons
However, that serves little purpose in the long run for the club or the player. The transfer fee that Southampton can demand for Edozie is falling by the day. Meanwhile, Edozie's lack of minutes may not encourage clubs to come in for him or pay him what he might be expecting.
Both Aribo and Edozie promised much but delivered little. Aribo was at his best during Southampton's Championship promotion season, but even then, he was not the main man.
The Nigerian arrived at St Mary's with 51 Glasgow Rangers goal involvements in the bank and a hefty price tag of £6m (rising to £10m with addons) in a four-year deal. He has scored just nine goals.
Samuel Edozie arrived in 2022 from Manchester City, and he looked promising, particularly during Southampton's promotion-winning season, with nine goal involvements in 32 Championship appearances. After failing to secure a place in the Premier League, Edozie went out on loan to RSC Anderlecht, where he played 17 times.
Both have been in the Southampton wilderness, although that seems to be by their own design. It is time for Southampton to cut its losses and run.