Southampton FC should dismiss one Kamaldeen Sulemana exit route – here’s why
Southampton have reached a crossroads with Kamaldeen Sulemana. As speculation mounts about his future, there is definitely one exit route that the Saints hierarchy should not be considering.
Since arriving at Southampton from Stade Rennes for a fee in the region of 25 million euros, the pacey winger has managed just five goal involvements in 44 Premier League matches. This meagre return has highlighted Sulemana’s lack of end product, despite his undoubted potential. Most Southampton fans just want to get rid of him.
In the Championship, the current Black Stars full international fared even worse. His return of just three assists and no goals in 25 EFL matches for the Saints doesn’t bode well for new manager Will Still, who is hoping to build a squad capable of being promoted next season.
FC Nantes fly back for more
With clubs allegedly queueing up to sign the out-of-form Saint, there is one deal that Southampton would be crazy to consider.
FC Nantes have launched a second attempt to sign Southampton’s Ghanaian senior international, Sulemana. According to Africafoot, the Ghanaian is seen as a priority target for the Canaries, who first tried to sign Sulemana in January. However, Southampton were unwilling to loan the player, preferring a permanent sale to recoup as much of their initial outlay as possible.
However, a potential fee of close to £17 million (20 million euros) prompted the Ligue One outfit to pull out of negotiations, but it seems that they are coming back for a second bite of the cherry.
Nantes favour a loan deal with an obligation to buy. This structure would be the same as the one that Southampton agreed with Strasbourg for former Wizkid Sam Amo-Ameyaw in 2024. The deal for Amo-Ameyaw will see Southampton net a paltry £10 million, as per the Echo, for the talented 18-year-old winger. Just imagine what he might have been worth if he’d gone out and been successful on loan to one of the Bundesliga teams in Germany.
Allowing Sulemana to leave for Nantes in an obligation-to-buy deal could leave Southampton seriously out of pocket should the Ghanaian’s form improve. The potential that prompted Southampton, then under Nathan Jones, to splash over £20 million on Sulemana may just be bubbling away like a previously dormant volcano. The correct move now could be the one that brings the heat. A move to Ligue One, which is arguably no more competitive than the Championship, is not that move.
