How much Southampton FC nearly signed Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda for - Chelsea reaped the rewards | OneFootball

Southampton could have had a very different tale in the early 2000s had they managed to secure Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda.

Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda both became legends at Chelsea Football Club, but it could have been very different had Southampton secured proposed deals for them in 2003.

The duo were both starring for Guingamp in Ligue 1, a club that had recently punched above its weight, finishing seventh in the league. The Ivorian striker had netted 17 goals that season, while Malouda had contributed 10, playing in his preferred position on the left wing.

Both players were instrumental in the club's success, and Southampton missed out on them that summer after scout, Ray Clarke, persuaded former owner Rupert Lowe and manager Gordon Strachan to abandon any interest in signing the pair.

From there, they followed different paths, only to reunite at Chelsea FC in 2007. Both players thrived at Stamford Bridge, and while Drogba inevitably stole the limelight alongside the likes of Frank Lampard and John Terry, they both played crucial roles in the Blues' success, securing multiple trophies, including the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.

In hindsight, they will no doubt be pleased they didn’t end up at St Mary’s, but for Southampton, it was a costly mistake letting this opportunity slip through their fingers.

The summer of 2003 had seen Southampton just come off the back of a solid eighth-placed finish, and immediately they were recommended to sign Drogba and Malouda by the Saints' European scout, Terry Cooper.

This prompted Lowe to agree a deal with the French club for €3.5 million-€4 million combined, but first he sought the approval of Strachan, who sent his personal scout to watch the duo.

Speaking to The Athletic about what led to the deal falling through, Lowe said: "Gordon Strachan was the manager, and he sent Ray, who was the other scout at the club, to watch Drogba.

"Ray came back and said he was a good player but that he didn’t have a very good touch. We ended up not buying Malouda and Drogba, largely as a result of Ray’s judgment. Specifically, Drogba. He didn’t make so much of Malouda. Our view was that we wanted them both because the pair of them were responsible for Guingamp’s success — Malouda was putting in the crosses for Drogba to score."

This perspective, however, seems quite off when considering the trajectory of Drogba's career. His first touch, while initially a point of concern, eventually became one of the most refined aspects of his game. What truly set Drogba apart, though, was his ability to hold up the ball and link play, qualities that became central to his success at Chelsea.

Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda are Chelsea icons

While Southampton could have signed Drogba and Malouda for a combined fee of €3.5-€4 million, Chelsea swooped in a few years later, securing the Ivorian for £24 million and the Frenchman for £13 million.

While these figures are a far cry from their 2003 prices, both players more than justified the fees Chelsea paid for them at Stamford Bridge.

Malouda scored 45 goals and provided 39 assists in 229 appearances. His best season came in 2009-10 when he contributed 12 goals and nine assists as the Blues secured an FA Cup and Premier League double under Carlo Ancelotti.

Drogba, meanwhile, was a game-changing striker for Chelsea. His record stands at 164 goals and 78 assists in 381 appearances across two separate spells. However, it was in finals where he truly made his mark. In the 2012 Champions League final, he scored the equaliser against Bayern Munich and converted the winning penalty in the shootout.

In total, Drogba won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, and one Champions League. His nine goals in ten finals for Chelsea stand as a testament to his clutch performances in the biggest moments.