Southampton now 'considering selling' £55k-a-week star at St Mary's

There’s a ‘suspicion’ that the ‘best days’ of Southampton midfielder Oriol Romeu are ‘behind him’, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.

It’s been a difficult start to the new season for the Saints, and the 30-year-old could be one of the casualties as manager Ralph Hasenhuttl looks to turn things around.

Southampton signed Romeu from Chelsea in a £5 million deal back in 2015, and it’s hard to argue that the tough-tackling engine room operator hasn’t been good value for money.

The former Spain Under-23 international has racked up 14 goal contributions in 255 appearances across all competitions, helping the south coast club cement their Premier League status.

In recent years, Romeu has formed a solid understanding with midfield partner James Ward-Prowse and started 32 Premier League games beside the Englishman last season.

And the duo lined up alongside each other once again in Southampton’s opening day defeat to Tottenham Hotspur before the 4-1 scoreline prompted Hasenhuttl to make a change.

Romeu was dropped to the bench for the 2-2 draw against Leeds United, and with just one year remaining on his £59,000-per-week contract, it remains to be seen what the future holds for him.

The arrival of the highly-rated Romeo Lavia from Manchester City over the summer appears to have pushed Romeu down Hasenhuttl’s pecking order at St. Mary’s.

And Crook has raised doubts over the Barcelona academy graduate’s ability and the future of fellow midfielder Ibrahima Diallo, who earns £55,000-per-week.

He told GiveMeSport: “I think there’s a suspicion that maybe Romeu’s best days are behind him, and I think you’re going to ask me about Ibrahima Diallo. I think if they could shift him on this summer, then they would do.”

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