Southampton have sold players to clubs including Arsenal and Manchester United over the past three summers.
Southampton pair Ryan Bertrand and Virgil van Dijk
According to the London Evening Standard it’s not just Virgil van Dijk being targeted for a move to Chelsea from Southampton this summer.
Ryan Bertrand is also said to be wanted by the Blues, from whom the Saints signed him three years ago – initially on loan.
Southampton should be used to this by now, with several of their stars sold on at a profit in each of the past three summer transfer windows.
But could a couple of, allegedly forthcoming, departures in turn open the door for two previous ones to return to St Mary’s?
The futures of both Calum Chambers and Luke Shaw are uncertain at Arsenal and Manchester United respectively, with neither’s manager appearing to fancy them at present.
And it is plausible that, given the chance, the pair would welcome returns to the south coast, where they spent their formative years as professionals.
Calum Chambers has impressed on loan to Middlesbrough this season
Southampton are said to have received just shy of £43 million for Chambers and Shaw [Transfermarkt] and would perhaps have change left over from that should the pair return, with neither being given a proper chance to justify their price tags since moving, respectively, to the Emirates Stadium and Old Trafford.
Van Dijk, according to some reports, would cost more than that alone – hinting at yet another productive summer for Saints’ coffers.
Would you trade Van Dijk and Bertrand to have Chambers and Shaw back at Southampton?
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