Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit predicts Southampton transfer exit as £17m price-tag set | OneFootball

Their former boss is looking to poach the winger away from St Mary's.

Former Southampton boss Ivan Juric is very keen to bring his former player Kamaldeen Sulemana over from St Mary's to his new side, Atalanta.

The Croatian landed one of the top jobs in Italy after failing to keep Southampton from being relegated back to the Championship.

A number of sides across the top divisions are now looking to take advantage of the talent-ridden Saints now that they have dropped a division, Atalanta being one of them.

They want to sign Sulemana, who they believe would be available for €15 million (£12.8 million), as per Gazzetta dello Sport. According to Sky Sports, the Serie A outfit have seen a €12 million (£10 million) bid for the Ghanaian rejected. The Saints reportedly want €20 million (£17 million) for the winger.

Atalanta are one of a number of clubs who may look to take advantage of Southampton's willingness to sell this summer. Ajax, Genoa and Torino are also reported to be keen on capturing the 23-year-old this summer.

Southampton told to expect Kamaldeen Sulemama exit this summer

In the eyes of Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie, Southampton can't expect to hold onto Sulemana beyond this summer.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Hendrie believes that the winger will be one of a number of Saints players who want to move on from the club.

"He's got lots of potential," Hendrie told FLW on Sulemana.

"I can't see them keeping hold of him. I think this is the thing with the big football clubs that have seen these players play and, obviously, around Europe, this is where you do feel that these players go and kick on. They move on to other clubs.

"I think it'd be a good signing for Atalanta. I just can't see Southampton being able to keep hold of him. I really can't.

"I just think that all their key players have had a taste of having the Premier League, the top flight, they want to go and kick on from there."

Kamaldeen Sulemana's time at Southampton just hasn't worked

The Ghana international joined Southampton in January 2023 from Stade Rennes for a club-record £22 million.

He hasn't managed to kick on much since arriving in Hampshire, contributing only 11 combined goals and assists since making his debut in the Premier League against Brentford.

His arrival is another example of recruitment that did not work well whatsoever for the Saints in Nathan Jones' time at the club.

They will make a loss on him if they sell for the price that Atalanta are reportedly willing to pay. They are also expected to do so with Paul Onuachu, who Southampton have agreed to sell to Tranbzonspor for €8 million (£6.8 million), having spent £18 million on the same day that Sulemana arrived.