Dragan Solak drops honest Southampton FC transfer update | OneFootball

Southampton owner Dragan Solak won't be entertaining anything less than huge fees for players with plenty of years on their contracts

After being expelled from the Championship play-offs, denying them an opportunity at Premier League promotion, Southampton will be facing a struggle to keep their core group of players at St Mary's.

Despite how people may feel about the tactics that Tonda Eckert's side used throughout their mammoth unbeaten run in the second half of the season to propel them into the play-offs, what cannot be understated is the quality in depth in the Southampton squad.

The Saints used their Premier League parachute payments to good effect last summer, ensuring that the likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Shea Charles remained at the club, while also spending good money on brilliant additions such as Leo Scienza, Finn Azaz and Casper Jander, just to name three.

But, after an excellent season, there's undoubtedly going to be interest in those players from top-flight leagues.

Hull City and Coventry City have been credited with interest in Harwood-Bellis, as have Leeds United with Charles and Scienza. Further afield, Jander is attracting interest from Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart.

Dragan Solak outlines Southampton's stance on sales this summer

Action Images

It'll be a nigh-on miracle if Southampton can keep all those players who performed last season at St Mary's this summer, but their owner, Dragan Solak, is keen to retain as many at the club as possible.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Solak outlined his desire to keep those early in their contracts at Southampton, and that the club will be under no immediate pressure to sell them.

"We have to see who will come for who, because there are players who are really early on in their contracts with us," he said. "We don't want to talk about them, so if anyone does, they would really have to wake me up with something incredible.

"If I can buy half a team for the money, then okay, we'll discuss. But we have a couple of guys who are toward the last year or two of their contracts."

Indeed, those who have excelled in their debut campaigns at Southampton, the likes of Scienza, Jander, Azaz and Tom Fellows, still have three years remaining on their deals, so Dragan Solak knows that he holds all the cards when it comes to a sale.

The Serbian does admit, though, that the likes of Charles and Harwood-Bellis, who both have two years left on their contracts after being at the club for three seasons, may be the subject of bids that the owner can't turn down.

"Some of them are so good that we might get offers, and look, some might say that they can become an England international playing at the right club," he continued. "Then, a Premier League club comes to them and says, 'We want you to play in the top tier' and offers them triple or quadruple the salary they have now.

"I look at this guy, and think, 'Okay, he gave us a few top years, was always his best, was always giving his heart on the field and everything for the club.' If the deal makes sense to him, is good for his career, then I understand, and I support that, but we want to make good business.

"If a club comes and says, 'We really love this player, and he should play in the Premier League,' I would say, 'Show me how much you love them.' If they come with a good business for the club, and the love is at the level I think is reasonable, then they can play in the Premier League."

Southampton should be in a good place to reinvest if they do lose some of their stars this summer

Action Images

Evidently, the Saints owner isn't prepared to lose his players for less than he feels is a good deal, as he knows that, even with a four-point deduction to start the season, they could be Premier League players this time next year at their current club.

Southampton have already been busy in the transfer window this summer, making the loan moves of George Long, Daniel Peretz, Cyle Larin and permanent, the latter two instrumental to the second half of their season just gone.

Peretz especially would have commanded top-flight interest, as the former Bayern Munich shot-stopper was arguably the best goalkeeper in the Championship during his spell on the south coast.

That indicates that Dragan Solak is ready to do whatever it takes to put Tonda Eckert in the best position possible to build on their momentum from last season and oversee a successful campaign in 2026/27, which hopefully sees them go one further and secure promotion.

And that will also include keeping those who lit up the second tier under the German boss at the club, so they can have a similar impact.

The reality is that there will be interest in those players, and in the end, the Saints owner may be powerless to sanction a sale. However, if that ends up happening, you can bet that he'll be getting as much money as possible to reinvest and ensure that Southampton have a squad to be reckoned with once again next year.