So far this season the only players who have left St Mary's have been those out of contract or who have already agreed loan deals elsewhere for the season, but now comes news of what could be the first permanent move out.
Media reports in Italy are claiming that Bologna manager Sinisa Mihajlovic wants to sign Saints central defender Lyanco, the pair have worked together before at Torino and it is being said that in Corriere dello Sport that Bologna director Giovanni Sartori is ready to open talks with Southampton.
But it also says that the Italian club know that it won't be straightforward, firstly although Saints are a little top heavy at the moment with central defenders, they are low on experience and with Jan Bednarek also tipped to leave, Lyanco could play a major part at St Mary's in the coming season.
When called upon in 2021/22 he in the main did a good job for the team and seemed to learn as he went along with a spirit lacking in some players at St Mary's last term.
There is also the little matter of his wages which will probably be on the high side for Bologna to match, will the Brazilian be willing to take a pay cut to join.
But there is hope for Bologna in that Saints are now wheeling and dealing and these days every player has his price, if the club could get it's money back on Lyanco, somewhere around £7 million would do the trick then there could be a deal to be done as that would give Southampton money in the kitty for a replacement with experience as well as money off the wage bill to do so.
From my perspective I still maintain we lack a true leader in the centre of the defence and that we need to plug that gap, even if it is not a player at the peak of his career and who would give you 38 games a season, we need someone who can command a defence and hold a line, a player that can br brought on late on in games to organise and see out a game in the closing stages.
That player is not currently at St Mary's