Southampton's transfer window concludes with unexpected transfer confusion | OneFootball

Southampton target Abakar Sylla's transfer saga left the Saints empty handed in their ambitions to bolster their centre back ranks.

People often say that the transfer window is always full of surprises. Even more, when it's the winter one where clubs often look to bring a stop gap solution to slightly tweak their squad.

Expectedly, Southampton were also one of them albeit they were among the latecomers. Thus, the deadline day was a golden chance which rather slipped through Southampton's fingers.

Recently, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the Saints were on the brink of securing the signature of Strasbourg's Abakar Sylla. Defence had become Southampton's biggest pain-points in previous matches and Sylla's arrival was meant to cure that in some capacity.

Southampton's transfer window concludes with unexpected transfer confusion

Yet, what happened later left the Saints in an unexpected transfer limbo. It's believed that Sylla decided to join Parma at the expense of Southampton and later Daily Echo's reporter Alfie House addressed those rumours.

In his own words, Alfie House said: "Just trying to get a bit more clarity on it but club sources have confirmed the reports suggesting the Abakar Sylla deal has collapsed. I said earlier it was still up in the air but I think everyone had hoped it would get done. More to follow when I get it."

At this point you might be wondering whether Southampton's unclear Premier League status played a role here. Don't worry, there was much drama yet to come regarding the 22-year-old's new club.

Ultimately, Sylla had to stay put at Strasbourg for the time being as the Parma move hit the contractual stumbling block. This scenario must have reminded the Saints when nothing came out of Kamaldeen Sulemana's Ajax transfer due to some similar reasons.

Now, nothing can't be done until June as time has been called on the current chaotic transfer market. This leaves Ivan Juric with a big headache to form a steady and stable defence utilizing the existing roster.