A few months ago Saints were looking to get perhaps half the fee they paid for Graziano Pelle if he departed in the summer, now that fee could quadruple due to Chelsea's interest.

Most Saints supporters assumed that Pelle would leave Saints quietly and return to Italy to end his career in Serie A and that we would perhaps be able to achieve a transfer fee for him of around £4 million, a sum worth about half of what we paid two years ago.

He has more then repaid that fee in the time he has been here and most Saints fans wish him all the best as his career enters its final phase.

But for the player himself it has been a dream since joining Saints as he has not only made a name for himself in the Premier League but won caps for his country and played in a European Championships.

Now though it looks like his career might take yet another turn.

Ronald Koeman leaving Saints perhaps suggested that Saints might make a bit more money than they would have expected, he was rumoured to be looking to sign Pelle for a third time and that would have pushed up the price given the money that he has at his disposal.

But now Chelsea and new boss Antonio Conte are linked and this has pushed the price up further, Korean's link pushed the asking up to around the £8 million Saints paid, but Chelsea coming in sees the media in a frenzy with £20 million being touted in at least one media outlet.

That is perhaps a bit too high, but £12.5 million seems to be the par score, a lot of money for a player in his 30's, but to Chelsea and Conte its change in their back pocket, they want proven strikers and are looking for a short term boost after last seasons disaster.

This could be a vital boost for Saints, certainly they will feel that if they could get £12.5 million for the player they could use it well in the transfer market and as they did with Pelle two years ago, find a player for around or even less than that price tag who will do as good a job.

Wherever he goes I wish Pelle well, he has been a great servant to Southampton Football Club and took us through a difficult time and into better ones, something that not many were predicting when he arrived from Feyenoord.

Photo: Action Images

GingerMark added 16:45 - Jul 4 This situation feels very reminiscent of Lambert (but to not the same extent of course), I suspect most fans would not begrudge Pelle a final hurrah, especially if we get a decent fee. Granted, Chelsea are not his boyhood club, but continuing to work with Conte and getting a final pay day, why not? Alas (for Pelle), if it happens, I don't think he will cut it at Chelsea. The goals he has scored for Italy have mostly been against lower-level teams (I am thinking Malta) or late goals when Italy were already ahead (although you could argue he made the games "safe"). And whilst I loved him for us, I am unsure if he will be prolific enough for Chelsea, although it will be interesting to see if his game improves further when playing in what I assume will be a much improved team compared to last season's Chelsea. I was confused by the Korean link... then I realised you probably meant Koeman. Maybe hire a proofreader?

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SaintDownUnder added 16:47 - Jul 4 If he wants to stay, I'd rather keep him for another year. If he wants to go then let's cash in. I hope he stays, I have a feeling we'll only realise just how good he is when he goes and isn't our focal point anymore. He's not allowed on pens if he stays though :-)
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BUCK added 18:16 - Jul 4 He's played his last game for saints that's for certain.good luck to him and anything over the 8 million we paid for him is a result. I don't see him going to Chelsea as he would only be a squad player just like lambert was at Liverpool. Hope he goes to Italy where he will thrive
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bstokesaint added 20:10 - Jul 4 Honestly if we could get £20m that would be dream stuff. I think he's been a great player for us but he's the wrong side of 30 and if a big club want to pay over the odds for a season or two and give us the cash to buy an exciting youngster, or two, I know what I'd rather have. It is imperative that the money is spent well though. With the money received from Vic, Mane and Pelle we could get some serious talent. That's what the fans will be expecting to see and they'll be pi$$ed if they don't get it.

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SanMarco added 22:30 - Jul 4 Alright so Pelle goes as well - can that then be it please? Rumours that we are looking at left-backs doesn't inspire me with confidence that the door will close after three departures though. bstoke's final two lines sum up what needs to happen next. If Redmond ends up being the incoming highlight then things will not be looking good.
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perazi added 23:17 - Jul 4 It would be a great time to sell Pelle. He has served Saints well, but about to turn 31, and with the fee the Chelsea's and Everton's of the world seem ready to pay we should all be offering to drive him up to London or Liverpool.
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