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Central Defender In Discussions To Leave St Mary's

Central defender Wesley Hoedt is report ably in discussions to join Belgium giants Anderlecht, but seemingly isn't willing to take a pay drop to do it.

REports in the media say that Wesley Hoedt is about to have a second season out on loan in Belgium, but this time it won't be Royal Antwerp but Anderlecht.

Once the top club in Belgium, Anderlecht finished 4 points and 10 places behind Antwerp when the league was suspended.

But despite the fact that Hoedt was vocal in the media about moving away from St Mary's permanently it seems that he is not willing to take a pay cut to actually do that and Saints at best will get his wages covered, but even that is unlikely.

That is still a problem for Saints, they have too many on big wages who prefer to go out on loan for a year and thus receive their full wages from Saints, than take a pay cut and sign for someone permanently.

So it looks like Saints will have to wait till next summer when several like Lemina and Hoedt will be in the final year of their contracts and then may be willing to take a drop in salary for the security of a long term contract elsewhere.

Then Saints will finally have the financial shackles thrown off and hopefully will also get some transfer money in to improve the squad.

Hoedt could have been a decent player for Saints, but from the very start Ralph Hasenhuttl seemed to take a dislike to the Dutch defender, the nearest he got to playing under the Austrian was two appearances on the bench as an unused sub before being shipped out on loan.

Hoedt appeared to be back in the fold last summer and spoke of re establishing himself in the team, but again he found himself given the cold shoulder from Ralph and he was vocal in the media seemingly burning his bridges at St Mary's whilst Hasenhuttl is in charge.

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