Southampton: Saints release six players at end of 2018/19 season

Southampton have released six players as the 2018/19 Premier League season comes to a close.

The most notable player to be let go by the Saints is former club captain Steven Davis, but his departure was officially announced back in January when he joined Rangers on a short-term loan deal.

Jonathan Afolabi, Jamie Bradley-Green, Jake Flannigan, Siph Mdlalose and Ben Rowthorn are the other five who will be leaving St Mary’s before next season.

Releasing players that no longer have a future with the club is just a small part of the work that needs to be done during this summer.

However, the removal of Davis from the wage bill permanently will have freed some funds to be allocated to other areas.

Of the five youth talents to leave, midfielder Jake Flannigan is perhaps the most significant.

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The 23-year-old never made a senior appearance for Saints despite flirting with the edges of the first-team, but his career has been badly affected by long-term injuries.

He joined Burton Albion on-loan during last season with fellow Saint Jake Hesketh but only made one appearance for Nigel Clough’s side.

An complex contract situation seemed to lead to Afolabi’s exit from the club.

The Republic of Ireland youth international rejected the offer of a new deal with Saints after interest from Premier League, Championship and League One clubs according to a report from the Football Insider.

In 73 games for Saints’ Under-18s and Under-23s, the 20-year-old scored 16 goals and provided eight assists whilst playing mostly as a centre-forward.

Loan spells for Mdlalose and Rowthorn came at Salisbury City and Truro City respectively in 2018/19 and they must also plan for an extended future at other clubs.

The Premier League’s published retained lists also confirm that youth trio Kieran Freeman, Dan Nlundulu and Nathan Tella are being offered professional contracts by Saints ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.

Other notable players to be released by top-flight sides include Gary Cahill, Danny Welbeck, Fernando Llorente, Andy Carroll and Michel Vorm.