Last summer, Southampton did not have the most productive of transfer windows.
They spent a fair amount of money on Mohamed Elyounoussi, expecting big things from the former Basel man following an impressive 2017/18 campaign, but he has been unable to make much of an impact.
How things could have been so different if the south coast club landed another key target they had going into this season, James Maddison.
The one that got away – James Maddison and Southampton
Now at Leicester City, Maddison snubbed Southampton before moving to the King Power Stadium, according to Sky Sports.
And since then, the 22-year-old has quickly gone on to become one of the most exciting players in the Premier League.
Picking up straight from where he left off with Norwich City, Maddison has been such an attacking threat whenever he has taken to the pitch this season.
A technically gifted midfielder who can pass through the lines, take the ball past an opposition defender and shoot, he is exactly the sort of player Southampton needed.
Under Mark Hughes, in particular, the Saints really lacked imagination before the Welshman’s dismissal.
Since Ralph Hasenhuttl took the reins at St. Mary’s, they have improved drastically in that department.
But you still cannot help but wonder where they would have been had they managed to sign a player of Maddison’s quality.
For as good as someone like Nathan Redmond has been under Hasenhuttl, the England winger needs support, and Maddison could have been just the man to share that attacking burden with him.
That being said, now worth £27m (Transfermarkt), given their track record, Southampton probably would not have been able to keep hold of him.
While Leicester would not entertain an offer of £27m for one of their most prized assets, it would still not be a surprise to see Maddison leave the King Power this summer.
The England U21 international is starting to attract interest from some very big clubs including Tottenham (The Times) after the impressive season he has had.
For an outfit like Southampton, once that happens, the rest is history.
Still, if they had Maddison for this campaign, then they might have not found themselves fighting for Premier League survival.
Southampton fans, how disappointed were you when the club missed out on Maddison? Let us know!
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