Our new contributor Arron takes a look at the headline news of the last 24 hours about upheaval at St Mary's

It’s a new day and after all the speculation yesterday surrounding Virgil Van Dijk and manager Claude Puel futures, today it seems to be the turn of left back Ryan Bertrand.

Both the Daily express and Sky Sports are reporting this morning that Manchester City are making progress on a deal for our England international after their chase for Monaco left back Benjamin Mendy hit a stumbling block.

With the only major news being speculated in the media all being departures rather than arrivals the silence from the Southampton board becomes more apparent by the day, with a large section of the supporters growing tired of the same process being repeated again and again.

If players are going to be sold then that’s one thing but every year either the Chairman or Les Reed come out with statements, that “we do not have to sell” only for a few weeks later a player is being photographed holding his new sides shirt.

Yes we receive reasonable fees for the departing players but the frustration is growing and growing that we are not digging our heels in and refuse to sell our top players, even if only for one summer window just to show fans we mean what we say when we claim to have ambitions to one day play Champions League football.

Nobody has left yet and the board could still yet surprise me but losing both Van Dijk and Bertrand this summer would be too much in my opinion, and hopefully the club will release some information to fans this week on either the Manager or transfer speculation topics.

However everything you read or see on social media, points to more change this summer and once again becoming dependant on our excellent scouting and recruitment teams to ensure we can maintain our status as a top half premier league side next season.

Photo: Action Images

IWOZTHERE added 12:37 - Jun 6 The upheaval is now in the club's DNA and will take a major effort to change its perception in the eyes off players and supporters alike. Many assume VVD will go and in isolation, it's difficult to turn down that sort of money but whether he stays or goes is a statement of ambition. A MASSIVE statement if we can get him to stay,one that might affect the thinking of the likes of Bertrand, Romeu or any targets we have in mind. The reverse applies if he is sold, unless those players can be persuaded that the exceptional fee will be spent on quality incomings and perhaps wage enhancements for the elite few to give us a chance of keeping them.. As with Claude though, how can anything happen while the 'ownership' is in limbo? FFS get it done or pull out...It's damaging the club !

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SanMarco added 16:47 - Jun 6 The damage was done at the end of MoPo's time when the club allowed precedents to be set and I do like IWOZTHERE's phrase: that upheaval is now 'in the club's DNA'. I don't pretend to know exactly how it all could have been avoided but it is starting again this summer and it really drains a bit more out of me each year. Why does the club never seem to be in charge? We had those assurances from Kreuger but it doesn't feel like they were worth anything. Come September we will be making another slow start due to 'rebuilding', we will be getting used to a new manager and a whole new bunch of replacements....

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TimSaint added 17:14 - Jun 6 We all knew it anyway, but this just confirms the real reason for getting players tied to long term contracts is not to prevent them leaving, but to ensure top dollar is achieved when they go. We obviously got stung big time with the low fees received for Clyne and Schneiderlin, so getting everyone on long term contracts will ensure the highest possible fee. It is all very well saying we don't need to sell, but generally we do. We have also said that VvD is not for sale, so we will see on that one. If we don't need to sell, why are we hearing that Man City are 2 weeks away from completing a deal for Ryan Bertrand !! I was hoping for a quiet summer, but I think there will be many a story to follow - especially if/when an announcement is made about our managerial situation.

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BoondockSaint added 17:44 - Jun 6 Notice how whenever the Saints try to sign a new manager or player, it drags on and on, for months even into the next transfer window? But as soon as there is a hint of a rumour in the press about some team having their eye on a Saints player, it's done and dusted in a day and Les is out hailing a taxi for the player!
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