Occasionally unplayable but often frustrating, Dusan Tadic is a player who has divided the opinion of Southampton supporters since his arrival at the club in 2014.
The Serbian playmaker has been a figure of inconsistency over recent seasons but he has also been utilised throughout his tenure at St Mary’s as the team’s primary creative fulcrum.
Ronald Koeman, Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino and Mark Hughes have all seen fit to make Tadic the centrepiece of their tactical setups at the club, and although he has been a much-maligned character at Saints, his importance is evident.
Tadic struggled to make an impact last season under Pellegrino and in large parts, looked lifeless. The 29-year-old was rather laboured in his play and he failed to impress, much to the frustration of Saints fans.
However, in the club’s most difficult period in the last eight years, he stepped up and made himself the talisman. Hughes came in and Tadic flourished, reminding us all of just how special a player he can be when he is at his best.
Tadic also spoke of Hughes’ impact and was full of praise for the then-interim Saints boss. It had seemed as though he was keen to continue working under the Welshman following such a successful conclusion to the season.
I think he needs to stay in Southampton because he is a great coach and he’s a coach for Southampton – everyone can see that. It would be great for Southampton if he stayed.
However, according to strong reports from the Netherlands, Tadic is set to leave St Mary’s this summer. A move to Ajax is understood to be in the offing, with the deal at an advanced stage, according to De Telegraaf.
Tadic has been linked with Ajax for a couple of months now but nothing concrete has emerged until now, with claims made that he has already agreed on a switch to the Dutch giants.
There will undoubtedly be Southampton supporters who are ready to say their goodbyes to Tadic, with the playmaker having often flattered to deceive.
However, the general consensus among Saints fans since the news emerged in the early hours of the morning is one of anger and frustration. Why would the Southampton board’s only action in the summer transfer window thus far be to offload the club’s only naturally creative outlet?
Without a doubt, major changes need to be made to the Saints squad ahead of next season. The deadwood needs to be cut and players of viable quality need to be added in key areas.
However, not one signing has been made yet and we are more than a month into the window. Of course, there is still time for action, but it feels as though Southampton have been dragging their heels already this summer.
It’s believed that Tadic is set to be sold to Ajax for a fee in the region of £15 million, only a small amount more than what Saints paid Twente back in 2014. Tadic may well be rapidly approaching his 30s, but in today’s day and age, it seems like a rather lowly price for a player who is clearly held in high esteem by those at the club.
Also, there’s room for Tadic’s value to spring. If the player has a good World Cup with Serbia, interest will undoubtedly increase – are Saints simply accepting the first half-decent offer that comes in? It’s a huge cause for concern.
If Tadic is sold, the club will surely look to replace him with another creative player. This would be the logical call, but following such a bleak campaign last term, how will they be able to attract a player of similar quality?
We’ve already seen this summer that moves to other clubs in the Premier League are of more interest to young, hungry players. James Maddison opted against a move to Southampton to join Leicester City. Although this decision was supposedly based on location, the England Under-21 international made it no secret that Leicester made significant efforts to persuade him to join. You have to wonder if Southampton were as visibly keen to recruit the player.
If Saints do indeed sanction the sale of Tadic, they will simply have to sign a player of greater quality than the Serbian international. Quite frankly, it’s hard to see that being a feasible possibility.
Tadic, since his arrival in 2014, has been directly involved in 47 of Southampton’s goals in the Premier League – the most of any player in the squad for the last four seasons. His shortcomings have been well documented in recent campaigns but he is, without doubt, a key player for Southampton.
If the reports of Tadic’s exit are indeed true and Southampton are to lose a first-team mainstay without any suitable replacement waiting, the club’s hierarchy will have yet more big questions to answer to.
