According to a report by The Telegraph, Dutch giants Ajax are interested in signing Southampton winger Dusan Tadic this summer. The report further claims that the Serbian has expressed a desire to leave and that the Saints will be looking for a fee in the region of £18million.
Tadic finished the previous term as Southampton’s leading goalscorer and he was one of their better players even as the club escaped relegation by a cat’s whisker.
With Mark Hughes at the helm, changes are expected but the club will miss Tadic’s presence. Over the course of the previous season, the midfielder was instrumental in whatever little successes they had. In 37 appearances across competitions, he chipped in with 7 goals and 3 assists.
His versatility was on full show as well; Tadic played on the right-wing and across a variety of midfield positions. Additionally, the player also created a total of 53 chances in 36 Premier League appearances, as per Squawka.
Although he was one of Southampton’s most important players, Tadic struggled to maintain consistency. Of course, when the squad fails collectively as a unit, it is tough for a playmaker to perform well.
In order to revive his career, an exit seems to be the best move for the 29-year-old and joining Ajax would not only provide him with a solid chance to win trophies but it would also be a great chance for him to test his mettle against Europe’s best in the Champions League. But for Southampton, Tadic’s exit would be nothing short of a nightmare.
One might argue that the club could sign a new playmaker in the ongoing transfer window but Tadic knows the club inside out. After escaping relegation by 3 points, the last thing a club would want is for one of their key players to exit.
Hughes and the Saints have a colossal task ahead of them next season as they must push for a higher finish and regain lost glory. But can they risk letting Tadic leave only to look for a new playmaker in a highly competitive transfer market?
Since he has 2 years left on his current contract with Southampton, the ball is in the club’s court. If the Dutch giants are willing to match their amount, however, it would be bad news for Hughes.
Tadic has been through several ups and downs during his tenure with Southampton but after all this time, he is experienced and reliable enough to truly make a difference. From here on, the road will only get tough for the club but without Tadic, the Saints could get into trouble in the seasons to come as well.