Media sources in Italy are suggesting that Graziano Pelle may leave Southampton and return to his home country to end his career.
Saints problem is that Pelle only has 18 months left on his contract and with it due to expire in the summer of 2017 may have to cash in this summer rather than see him leave for nothing at the end of it.
It will be a tactical move by Saints though, Pelle will turn 31 this summer and if he doesn't sign a new deal then he will leave for Italy sooner than later, Saints will be keen either to secure his services for another 3 years or sell him for a healthy fee whilst he still has value, which despite his great two seasons in the Premier will only now drop due to his age.
The player himself has talked of his desire to return to his home country where he has never made his mark in Serie A with most of his success prior to joining Saints being in Holland.
If Pelle does go this will be no firesale of big names though, it will bear hallmarks of the Rickie Lambert deal where Saints cashed in whilst they still could and used the proceeds to help fund Pelle's aquisition.
That excersise may be repeated and certainly Saints have already been linked with a number of central strikers in Pelle's mode who could replace him.
Juventus and Lazio are being linked with a move and that would interest Pelle who as said would like to not only finish his career in Italy, but finish it with a flourish by finally establishing himself in Serie A