Will Still faces simple Southampton FC transfer decision as Ivan Juric plots raid | OneFootball

Kamaldeen Sulemana’s lack of impact at St Mary’s leaves Southampton with a clear-cut decision ahead of Atalanta’s expected bid.

For all the complexities facing Southampton in this summer’s transfer window, the future of Kamaldeen Sulemana presents one of the simpler decisions for new Saints manager Will Still.

When a £22 million investment returns just four goals across 74 appearances, the writing is already on the wall.

Add to that a playing style mismatch and a viable suitor in Atalanta, led by a manager who knows the player well, and the logic of a sale becomes almost irrefutable.

Ivan Juric’s Atalanta plans could trigger key Southampton exit

Atalanta’s interest, reportedly underpinned by former Saints boss Ivan Juric’s desire to reunite with Sulemana, comes at an opportune moment.

The Serie A side believe a deal could be struck for around €15 million (£12.8m), and while that represents a significant loss on the club’s initial outlay, context matters.

Southampton’s financial strategy, post relegation, is necessarily shaped by PSR compliance and a high wage bill.

Cashing in on an underperforming asset who does not suit the new manager’s model is both sensible and strategic.

The numbers alone speak volumes. A return of one goal and one assist last season is deeply underwhelming, especially for a winger brought in during a relegation battle to provide immediate impact.

Sulemana’s technical ability is not in doubt, but football is a results-driven business, and Southampton simply haven’t had the returns they needed from him.

Mismatch between Kamaldeen Sulemana and Will Still’s philosophy justifies sale

Will Still demands disciplined, tactically astute attackers who can press intelligently and exploit space with purpose.

While Sulemana’s explosive pace fits part of that brief, his positional discipline and end product fall short.

With Still likely looking to implement a structured, data-driven system built around control and compactness, there is little to suggest a meaningful turnaround lies ahead at St Mary’s.

Moreover, the financial dimension cannot be overlooked. Southampton will grapple with the wage impacts of top flight spending. Despite previous strong player sales, this summer will be about shuffling the deck rather than speculative investment.

With limited owner injection expected, outgoing transfers must finance incoming reinforcements. Sulemana represents an ideal candidate: sellable, surplus to requirements, and generating near instant cash.

The potential move to Atalanta also benefits the player: European football, a reunion with Juric, and a stylistic setup more conducive to his strengths make this a rare win-win scenario.

From Southampton’s perspective, offloading an expensive misfit while recouping a significant, if reduced, fee aligns with both footballing and financial objectives.

Ultimately, Still's challenge is not just tactical - it’s economic. Every squad decision must serve the dual purpose of competitiveness and sustainability.

Letting Sulemana go, especially under favourable conditions, is not a gamble. It is a necessary step in reshaping a team for promotion, with resources better allocated elsewhere.