Southampton's best XI of sold players is so good it could challenge for the Premier League

Southampton have sold an enormous amount of world class talent in recent years.

It’s true that the Saints have become a bit of a feeder club for England’s traditional top-dogs in Liverpool and Manchester United.

To the Merseyside club alone, Southampton have sold Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Rickie Lambert all within the last decade.

Of course, whilst that could be deemed as frustrating for some fans, it’s also an important source of income that is a vital part of the way Southampton’s business is run.

The departures of Van Dijk and Mane to Anfield brought in over £100 million in transfer fees and an accumulative profit of nearly three quarters that amount.

The roughly £72 million they made off those deals, combined with the vast profits from selling the likes of Gareth Bale and Luke Shaw, has been instrumental in the club maintaining their top-flight status for 10 consistent seasons now.

And there is probably a general acceptance amongst the fan base that this is how the club will continue to operate to maximise their potential.

But, nevertheless, it’s still crazy to consider what could have been for Southampton if players didn’t move around so much in the modern day game.

Check out this XI of players that Southampton have sold and try telling us that they wouldn’t be at least top four contenders…

GK – Paulo Gazzaniga

RB – Calum Chambers | alternative option: Nathaniel Clyne

CB – Dejan Lovren | alternative option: Jose Fonte

CB – Virgil van Dijk

LB – Luke Shaw

DM – Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg | alternative option: Victor Wanyama

CM – Adam Lallana | alternative option: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

CM – Dusan Tadic

RW – Gareth Bale | alternative option: Theo Walcott

ST