Southampton have lost one of their key players following their relegation from the Premier League after Mohammed Salisu completed a transfer to Monaco as reported by Fabrizio Romano. The defender, who was linked with Fulham, is the first to leave this summer, with Romeo Lavia, James Ward-Prowse and Tino Livramento all rumoured to be attracting interest this transfer window.
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Southampton Exodus Begins as Fulham Miss Their Man
Salisu Impressed Despite Relegation
The 24-year-old was left out of the side as Southampton’s relegation was confirmed. Despite this, he averaged 2.3 tackles and 5.4 clearances per game, the most of any player at the club. It was clear that he would be on the move this summer, as he demonstrated far too much talent for the Championship. The Ghana international made 68 Premier League appearances in total since joining in August 2020. His most impressive performances came in away victories at Bournemouth and Everton.
Read More: Southampton Relegation: Where It Went Wrong for the Saints
The centre-back played in all three games for his country during the 2022 World Cup and scored the opener in Ghana’s 3-2 victory over South Korea. He made his debut in the World Cup warm-up games, scoring a header in his nation’s 2-0 win over Switzerland.
Monaco Have Secured a Replacement for Chelsea-Bound Diasi
Axel Diasi is on the verge of joining Chelsea. The outgoing defender had an impressive season, despite Monaco finishing sixth and failing to qualify for European Football. Salisu’s aerial ability and strong tackling skills make him an ideal replacement for Diasi.
The French side competed in the Champions League qualifying round in the previous two seasons and will be looking to rebuild the side ahead of the new term. They have beaten Fulham to the signing, with the London club previously close to sealing a deal before moving on and signing Ajax’s Calvin Bassey.
Read More: Fulham ‘Agree Personal Terms’ with ‘Unbelievable’ Premier League Winger
The move suits both parties. Monaco need to replace an outgoing star and Salisu needs to revitalise his career, after being left out of the Southampton side at the end of the season due to doubts over his commitment. The Saints can now use the fee to revitalise and freshen up their squad, as they face a challenging season in the Championship.
That said, the Cottagers will be disappointed to miss out on a player once described as being “among the top three defenders in the English Premier League” by former player Asamoah Gyan.
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