Saints have announced their first incoming transfer of the summer, however it's not quite done and dusted quite yet.
The worst kept secret of the last few weeks is now almost confirmed, I say almost in that Moussa Djenepo has not actually signed but just signed an agreement to sign on July 1st.
Confused don't be, as I have mentioned previously few signings are actually done by this date and for good reason, all contracts run to July 1st and on this day Djenepo will be entitled to contractual bonus's from Standard Liege if he is still on their books, so it seems that he will hang on for these rather than sign for Saints now and miss out, in real life it's called having your cake and eating it, but for footballers it's called normal practice.
Essentially though the deal is done and dusted in that neither side can now back out of the transfer it sets the date the contract is to be signed in stone.
The 20-year-old Mali international has agreed a four-year contract at St Mary’s and assuming that we don't find a player who is willing to forego his loyalty bonus between then and now Djenepo will become not only the first signing of the summer, but the first of Ralph Hasenhuttl's tenure at the club and hopefully not the last.
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhüttl said:
"We are very happy to welcome Moussa as the first new player to join our team ahead of the upcoming season.
"He is an exciting player, with tremendous pace and good finishing abilities, who we have watched closely for some time.
"We have been impressed with how he has adapted to football in Europe and the impact he has had in many games, and we had an interest in him as recently as January, so I am pleased we are able to bring him into the club.
"He combines his quality with a good mentality and he is the right profile of player that we want to sign — still in the early part of his career, already with a lot of talent, but also with a great amount of potential that I believe we can help him to fulfil.
"I think he will be an excellent fit for our style of play and shape, and these are the important characteristics we must look for.
"It is about getting this right sort of quality, not quantity — we must maximise the use of this window by spending our money in the right way and on the right type of player, and this is a very strong start.”
Moussa Djenepo commented:
"It is something I am very proud of. It’s a dream come true. Southampton is a great club and I am very happy.
"It’s a good club that is progressing, it has great facilities, and it’s a place that can help me to really kick on and progress.
"I am looking forward to it and I want to get to know my new family. I can’t wait to be around my new teammates and work hard alongside them.”
Djenepo seems to be a player similar to Sadio Mane in that he has the ability to play out wide on either side of the pitch as well as playing through the centre either as a forward or as an attacking midfielder.
Saints haven't announced the fee but it is believed to be an initial fee of £10 million which could rise to £14 million depending on various clauses being achieved.
This will cast doubt on the future of both Josh Sims and Moi Elyounoussi at St Mary's, Sims is likely to be wanted at the club being seen as one for the future, but Elyounoussi was far from impressive and might well be now surplus to requirements.