Arsenal miss out on seven-figure cash windfall after Southampton get relegated
SOUTHAMPTON’s sorry season has resulted in an instant return to the Championship – and a monetary blow for Arsenal.
The Saints’ relegation from the Premier League was confirmed after a 3-1 loss to Tottenham on Sunday.
Southampton wasted no time in sacking manager Ivan Juric and are already looking for a successor.
But Arsenal also missed out on a seven-figure payday once the Saints’ fate was confirmed.
The Gunners sold goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to Southampton last summer.
The South Coast club shelled out £18million upfront to bring the stopper to St Mary’s.
A clause in the England star’s contract stipulated that a further £1m would be paid to Arsenal if Southampton stayed up.
But after their relegation, Southampton don’t need to pay up.
Ramsdale has played 23 top-flight games this season for Southampton, conceding 54 goals.
The Saints stopper has kept just two clean sheets in a record-breaking campaign for all the wrong reasons.
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Southampton began the season full of hope under Russell Martin.
But they sacked 39-year-old in December following a number of heavy defeats.
Juric was brought in to steady the ship, but has only managed one win and a draw in 14 games.
The Croatian leaves the club as statistically the worst boss in Premier League history, with 0.29 points per game.
Assistant coach Simon Rusk will now take charge of the team until the end of the season.
Former England midfielder Adam Lallana has bagged a role as his No2.
Rusk and Lallana will be in the dugout for this weekend’s visit of Aston Villa.
Saints became earliest-relegated team in Premier League history, with a pitiful 10 points from 31 games so far.