Lyon's Ligue 2 relegation has been pulled back which has left the Saints helpless not being able to undo a previous academy transfer blunder.
Around two weeks ago, the shocking Ligue 1 announcement came that had Saints fans concerned for Caleta-Car and Maitland-Niles. In fact, within days, a fair share of supporters had even begun planning on the futures of the two ex-Saints given a relegation turnaround seemed unlikely.
But guess what? The far-fetched has just happened as Lyon has been deemed free of relegation punishment.
Recently, Fabrizio Romano updated on the issue, quoting: "Olympique Lyon will NOT be relegated to Ligue 2 and the club will stay in Ligue1. The decision has been confirmed."
Needless to say, this latest French call comes as a massive relief for Saints fans and all those worried for Maitland-Niles and Caleta-Car. Yet, what they may not realise instantaneously is that this decision comes with a bitter setback for themselves.
Lyon's relegation upturn denies Saints a chance to call back academy star
That's because witnessing this Lyon relegation, some Saints fans might have begun toying with the idea of recalling former academy star Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez. But with the club continuing in the Top Flight, Southampton has been deprived of this opportunity as the 17-year-old looks set to link up with Lyon's first team.
Now, for the far share of Southampton fans unaware of Alejandro's talent, his numbers would suffice for the talent he possesses.
Having contributed 11 goals in as many U18 games at St. Mary's and with a goal for U21, Gomes clearly had the potential to make it big at Southampton. Yet, that feels a disastrous lookback for the Saints who have been proved wrong for the second time while dealing with academy talents in a French transfer.
Remember the first blunder? It has been Sam Amo-Ameyaw's winter transfer. In case you remember, Southampton had agreed to a shocking loan for the prodigy which felt them getting rid of the exceptional talent themselves.
Well, the obvious has just happened as Saints Extra reports that Strasbourg recently completed the permanent signing of Amo-Ameyaw on the back of an exciting spell.
Needless to say, the Alejandro Gomez case will remind Saints supporters of their past Amo-Ameyaw mistake. And that makes Southampton trail in their academy output as they have had a successful Tyler Dibling spell at the cost of two academy slip-up departures now.