Koeman's Saints Sell Three Players
Lambert, Shaw and Lallana have all left Southampton F.C. this weekend, with tempting offers coming in from big clubs.
Southampton and England trio Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw have been sold by new manager Ronald Koeman. Lambert and Lallana were lured away with the offer of UEFA Champions League football at Liverpool F.C. while Shaw leaves for Louis Van Gaal's Manchester United, who, although without continental competition of any kind this season, were able to tempt the youngster away from St Mary's.
Lambert, 31, signs for his boyhood club for a fee of £4 million. The lifelong Liverpool fan began his career with his local club Liverpool, who released him at the age of fifteen. He spent a number of years playing in the lower leagues of English football, with clubs ranging from Blackpool to Stockport County. In 2006, he debuted for Bristol Rovers in what was then the Npower League Two. 'The Gas' were promoted later that season, and the next two seasons were the turning points in Lambert's career. In Rovers' first season back in League One since being relegated in 2004, Lambert finished as the clubs top scorer with thirteen goals, leading them to a 16th place finish. The following season, he netted 29 times in the season, and finished as the joint winner of the League One Golden Boot award, level with Swindon's Simon Cox, now of Nottingham Forest.
Lambert featured in Bristol Rovers' 3-1 win over Shrewsbury Town in the 2007 League Two Playoff Final; the new Liverpool man did not score, however.
Lambert's goalscoring ability was noted by Southampton the following season, and the striker agreed to a deal with The Saints, who splashed out just over £1 million on Lambert. In his first season at St Mary's, he was again the League One Golden Boot winner, with 30 goals to his name - he was unrivaled this time, however. Following several successful seasons with Southampton, including the clubs revival and return to the Barclays Premier League, Lambert finished his first season as a Premier League player with thirteen goals. His ability to adapt to much fiercer competition at the top level was fantastic, and as such, he was granted with an opportunity to return to his beloved Liverpool.
"I have always dreamt of playing for Liverpool, but I did kind of think the chance of playing for them had gone. I didn't think the chance would come."
Lambert on his return to Liverpool
Shaw and Lallana both joined The Saints as teenagers - Lallana joined from AFC Bournemouth aged 12, whereas Luke Shaw began his career with the club, at the age of 8. Lallana follows Lambert to Liverpool, for a fee of £25 million - however, the 25-year-old is definitely not in the same boat as Lambert when it comes to his reasons for joining the club. Growing up in St. Albans, Lallana was an avid follower of Liverpool's local rivals Everton, but he clearly has no grudges against Liverpool, as he joins the team who look to have found a successful squad after so many years of disappointment. Several consistent seasons at St Mary's have earned him much praise, and all three players earned international recognition, and featured in Roy Hodgson's disappointing England squad that played in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He was one of The Saints most important players in the season in which they returned to the Premier League, netting eleven goals in the league. Lallana had been the club captain since 2012, with Lambert as his vice-captain. The deal was completed early yesterday morning, after he passed his medical at Anfield.
Midfield Battle: Lallana tussles with Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard in the centre of the park
Luke Shaw, 17, becomes Southampton's record sale, departing the club for £31 million to sign for Manchester United. In doing so, he also becomes the world's most expensive teenager ever, breaking new team-mate Wayne Rooney's record of £30 million, following his transfer from Everton aged 18. Critics are divided over the transfer, with many believing that the fee involved was far too high for a teenager, while others say that it is entirely justified due to his potential. The London-born youngster grew up supporting United's fierce rivals Chelsea.
New manager Ronald Koeman told the BBC that this was not a sign of a change in club policies. Southampton are known for their youth academy, which has brought through the likes of Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott, and Koeman confirms that the team will still be making the most of that, but at the current time, they will most likely look to players from other nations to help fill the big gaps left by these players.
Plenty of cash to reinvest and some solid youngsters coming through. Should be a nice challenge
You have got to take that kind of cash especially for bloody Schneiderlin 
