The jokes about how Liverpool tried to turn into Southampton are completely justified.
Sadio Mane celebrates after scoring the second goal for Southampton
The rumours surrounding Southampton’s key centre back Virgil van Dijk refuse to go away, with the Liverpool Echo claiming that Liverpool are ready to pip Chelsea and Arsenal to his signature by offering a club record £50m.
Van Dijk, who the report claims was signed for £13m, won’t be the first player Southampton have signed and then sold on for mass profit in the past – with Liverpool traditionally forking out for their players. Here are four occasions where Southampton have cashed in on players they’ve signed.
Dejan Lovren
Southampton fans may feel as if Lovren left the club as quickly as he signed for them, as after just one year at St Mary’s, the Croatia international departed. The defender was signed for £8.5m from Lyon, as reports BBC Sport, but was quickly sold to Liverpool for £20m, as per the same report, after making just 31 appearances for the club – scoring twice. What made the switch more awkward than some others that will appear on this list however, is that Lovren tried to force a move through, and spoke publicly over his desires to join Liverpool, as reported by BBC Sport.
Adam Lallana celebrates with Dejan Lovren after scoring for Liverpool
Sadio Mane
The Senegal international arrived at St Mary’s Stadium in September 2014 as Lallana’s replacement down the wing for a fee of £10m, (BBC Sport), but it wouldn’t be too long until Mane was lining up alongside Adam Lallana at Liverpool. After a blistering two years with Southampton, with Mane scoring 25 in 75, the Merseyside outfit swooped for the winger last summer, and splashed out £34.5m for his services – though that fee could rise to £38.5m depending on various clauses, as reports the Telegraph.
Liverpool’s Nathaniel Clyne in action with Sevilla’s Vitolo
Nathaniel Clyne
The right back was signed from Crystal Palace for an undisclosed compensation fee, which the Mirror believed to have been between £2.15m and £2.5m, in 2012, but just three years later, the England international was on the move. After 104 appearances and five goals for the Saints, Liverpool came in with a £12.5m bid, as reports BBC Sport, and Clyne joined the Anfield club in the summer of 2015. All of the players on this list still play for Liverpool.
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