Morgan Schneiderlin has been linked with a move to Arsenal in every season since he arrived back in 2008, but he is now finding that rumour is often different from reality.
Saints fans have been resigned to losing Morgan Schneiderlin for almost a year now after the French midfielders tantrum last summer when he was told he would not be allowed to join the exodus out of St Mary's.
The Southampton faithful didn't begrudge Schneiderlin his move though, they recognised the contribution and loyalty he had put into Saints since his arrival, of course no one likes to see a star player leave, but when they have done for the club what Schneiderlin has, then they see him go with their best wishes ringing in their ears.
But what looked like the most certain transfer of the summer is now seemingly turning into a soap opera with no one putting in a serious offer, not even Manchester United the club with whom he has allegedly already agreed personal terms.
Schneiderlin's problem is that he doesn't appear to be anyone's first choice, not Arsenal's who not only have dithered due to the form of players already at the Emirates, but they also seem to prefer a number of other potential candidates possibly because of the cost.
Manchester United appeared to covet the player, their PR department was in overdrive and they made sure headline after headline in the national press told of the impending arrival of Schneiderlin at Old Trafford, even to the point that it shut Tottenham up about wanting to sign the player, the media was under the impression that this was the most done of done deals this summer.
But suddenly right at the predicted brink something has happened, United have taken a step back, perhaps its because of the fact that they are hopefully (for them) going to land Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid, suddenly it seemed that Schneiderlin is no longer a priority.
But it could be more sinister than that, Schneiderlin despite his high price doesn't appear to be United's first choice target either, that seems to be Bayern Munich's Bastian Sweinsteiger and at the moment it looks like United have gone to a lot of trouble to take their 2nd or even 3rd choice target in Schneiderlin to the very brink of a transfer and then held back by not putting in a serious bid, certainly now all the delays are all at United's end, Saints just want to get on with it so they can continue their rebuilding .
Why would they do that ?
Well the cynical would say that this is gamesmanship at the highest level, they are using Schneiderlin as bait for the likes of Sweinsteiger, showing him that if he doesn't make his mind up soon then the chance is gone, unlike Brendan Rodgers who in the case of Adam Lallana made public threats about going elsewhere if the deal wasn't done, United are being more subtle and some would say more devious.
So what will happen to Morgan Schneiderlin if Sweinsteiger should suddenly decide his future is at Old Trafford ?
The answer is he would find himself in limbo, perhaps Arsenal would come back in, perhaps Tottenham Hotspur genuinely have enough money but that is plenty of maybe's and he may find himself in limbo and facing having to stay at St Mary's, his problem is that the big club's don't seem to be sure and Saints rise means that they are as good as anyone else out there in terms of what they can offer both on and off the field.
But this scenario may not suit Saints, unless Schneiderlin is happy to sign a new contract then his staying another season is not the good news that some would think, Saints strategy relies on raking in the odd big fee every now and then and the clu would not want to find themselves in the situation they do now with Nathaniel Clyne ie a player with only a year left on his contract and therefore worth less than his actual value.
This being the case i feel Saints might prefer to cash in now and bring in their preferred replacements.
So Morgan Schneiderlin could be finding out the harsh reality in football in the next few days.