Five players who could leave Southampton including Man Utd and Liverpool targets

Suraj Radia

• 13 May 2023 17:02 BST
• 4 min read

Southampton have become the first team to suffer relegation this season after their loss to Fulham, sending Ruben Selles’ side to the Championship after 11 years in the top flight.

The Saints have one of the youngest teams in the Premier League and the youthful south-coast side could not drag themselves out of a relegation fight after playing under three different managers this season.

Despite their record, Southampton are expected to field major bids for their star players, having already received interest from the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool in their young talent.

RUMOURS: Liverpool join race for £50m Southampton star

FootballTransfers takes a look at five Southampton players that could be set for major, cut-price transfers back to the Premier League this summer.

Romeo Lavia

The jewel in Southampton’s crown, it is hard to believe Romeo Lavia had never played a senior league game prior to making the switch to the south coast from Manchester City.

Lavia’s quality was evident enough for Southampton to spend an initial £10.5 million on and they reportedly turned down an offer of £50m from Chelsea just weeks after they had signed the Belgian.

City have a buy-back clause of £40m on Lavia which becomes active next summer but the Saints could look to cash in now to potentially raise more money, with energetic midfielder proving a mature and reliable presence in the middle of the park.

James Ward-Prowse

Club captain James Ward-Prowse could finally leave Southampton this summer after 20 years of service, with the midfielder’s eight goals this season not enough to keep his boyhood side alive.

Ward-Prowse may feel some guilt at leaving his adored team but the 28-year-old will have one eye on trying to secure a place in England’s squad for next year’s European Championships.

A hard-working midfielder with arguably the best set-piece ability in the world, Ward-Prowse is thought to be tracked by Newcastle and Aston Villa but Liverpool could also make a move due to their need for midfielders this summer.

Carlos Alcaraz

Southampton continued their shrewd scouting until the end, with 20-year-old midfielder Carlos Alcaraz proving a revelation since his £12m move from Racing Club in January.

The Argentine has settled into Premier League life almost instantly, scoring four goals in his 15 appearances so far, helping keep his side in a relegation fight until the very end.

Alcaraz will certainly escape any major criticism for his part in Southampton’s season and he could represent a smart option for any top side, particularly if a relegation release clause exists in his contract.

Armel Bella-Kotchap

It says a lot that a 21-year-old defender for a relegation battling-side could still be selected for his first caps at a World Cup by Germany…but that is just an indicator of how highly Armel Bella-Kotchap is rated.

The French-born centre back joined the Saints from Bochum last summer and immediately established himself as a regular in the line-up, impressing despite Southampton’s record.

A tall and speedy defender already adapted to Premier League football and with plenty of his prime ahead of him, Bella-Kotchap could be a top target for any teams seeking a smart investment into the long-term future of their defence.

Kyle Walker-Peters

Kyle Walker-Peters has been one of Southampton’s most consistent performers since joining from Tottenham initially on loan in 2020.

The full-back has been capped twice by England during his time with the Saints, having featured on both flanks and was previously tracked by Arsenal over a potential move.

Walker-Peters has impressed at left-back, being able to play an inverted role and coming in on his right foot – an emerging role in modern football which could see him targeted by major clubs.