Southampton look set to make their first sale of the summer according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Manager Russell Martin will want to focus on the players he can bring in to improve his side ahead of their Premier League return but will know sales are necessary to balance the books.
Southampton have had a busy start in their bid to improve the squad ahead of next season, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ loan deal made permanent and Adam Lallana joining as a free transfer.
Experienced duo Ryan Fraser and Saman Ghoddos also look set to seal St Mary’s moves, but with seven senior players ending last season on loan away from the club there is deadwood that needs selling.
Now, it looks as though one of those loan players is about to secure a permanent move away from Southampton for a cut-price fee.
Southampton set to sell Romain Perraud to Real Betis
Southampton signed Romain Perraud for £11 million in 2021, with Ralph Hasenhuttl a fan of the French full-back.
However, it became clear early in Martin’s first pre-season last summer that Perraud would not be part of the new era following Premier League relegation.
The 26-year-old instead spent last season on loan at French club Nice, but failed to make an impact.
Having started just two league games in 2023/24, Perraud’s loan club decided not to activate their option to sign the left-back permanently this summer.
Instead Perraud looks set to head to Spain, with Fabrizio Romano confirming on ‘X’ that a deal is close that will see the energetic left-sider join Real Betis for significantly less than Southampton paid three years ago.
Romano posted: ‘Real Betis will invest a bit more than €3 million to sign Romain Perraud as new full-back from Southampton.
Deal almost completed, signing incoming.’
Ralph Hasenhuttl full of praise for Perraud at Southampton
Perraud was a well-like figure amongst Southampton fans, with many feeling he should have been kept at the club last summer.
Martin instead decided to trust Ryan Manning to carry out his philosophy at left-back and sanctioned a move away for Perraud.
It was Hasenhuttl who signed the French defender, though, and the Austrian coach was full of praise for Perraud early after securing his signing as he told Hampshire Live: “He [Perraud] has been absolutely fantastic. It is not easy and he has also shown a few very good games,”
“It is a luxury problem [having options at full-back]. It is not a problem for me, the problem was last season with not having the alternatives for these positions.
“But Romain is still a young player who will play a lot of games for us. He has shown in the games he has played that he is a different option with the left-footed player on the left side and it gives you other opportunities. He has had some very good games so far and I am very happy to have him.”
Perhaps things would have turned out differently for Perraud had Hasenhuttl stayed, but Southampton will now send him to Betis where he will hope to become a regular once more.