Exclusive: David Prutton shocked at Southampton's £100m Tyler Dibling price-tag as EFL return looms | OneFootball

David Prutton has spoken exclusively to Football League World about the £100m price tag that is on the head of the Saints youngster.

David Prutton has spoken of his surprise at Southampton's decision to place a £100m price tag on the head of their talented youngster Tyler Dibling, as their expected return to the Championship edges ever closer.

It was revealed last week that the Saints will ask clubs for a nine-figure fee for the services of the 19-year-old in the summer, with it looking incredibly likely that the south coast outfit will return to the Championship after just one year in the Premier League.

Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are both showing an interest in Dibling, but they must pay a British transfer record for a teenager if they are to complete the signing of the midfielder once the 2024/25 campaign comes to an end.

Southampton have been forced to wait for their return to football after the international break, and welcome Crystal Palace to St. Mary's Stadium on Wednesday evening as they look to pick up just their third league win of the season.

David Prutton issues verdict on Tyler Dibling's £100m price tag

Dibling has been one of the very few bright sparks for the Saints this season, and it is clear to see his talent, particularly in carrying the ball forward out of midfield.

However, with his side's impending relegation to the Championship, it could be incredibly difficult for the club to keep hold of the Exeter-born ace without placing such a high price tag on his head before the summer transfer window.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, David Prutton has issued his verdict on Southampton's decision to value the England U21 international at £100m, revealing that he's "not so sure" that the figure in question would be worth the money this summer.

The ex-Saints midfielder told FLW: "He did end up at Chelsea at the start of his career for a little bit, but then, by virtue of wanting to come back to more familiar surroundings, he found himself back at Southampton.

"Under the tutelage of the likes of Russell Martin, who having spoken to him about Tyler Dibling a few months ago now when he was still in the job, he had to work with him. He had to put time in with him on the training pitch.

"Undoubtedly, he's a wonderful ball carrier that stands out by a mile when you watch him in a poor Southampton team in the Premier League.

"He's quite obviously been one of the very few bright lights and his capabilities of moving a football and taking it in very, very tight spaces shows that he has got that confidence and the nerves to be able to deal with what football fundamentally is, which is a game of risk and reward and maintaining your possession. So, he's got a lot of that in his locker."

Prutton continued: "Realistically, for £100m, I mean, he's got a handful of Premier League games, he's still very, very young.

"We saw Archie Gray go for £40m off the back of a near ever-present season in the Championship and an appearance in the play-off final. Obviously, Dibling's doing it at a high level right now, but £100m, that's one hell of a punt on potential, isn't it?

"I'm sure the intricacies of it that would escape my very small brain would all add up, but he's definitely one for the future.

"Obviously, he's a Premier League player now, but he's definitely a consistently appearing Premier League player for years to come, but for £100m, I'm not so sure."

Tyler Dibling will find it a tough ask to return to the Championship with Southampton

Dibling made just one appearance for Southampton in the Championship, and the majority of the games that he has played in his career have come in the Premier League. Therefore, it is no surprise to see how comfortable he has found playing in the top flight in 2024/25.

He will be seeking a move away from the Saints if they are not able to find a way out of their current predicament, something that seems incredibly likely at this moment in time, and his side may have to settle for less than £100m.

It is an extraordinary fee to ask for a player who has spent just one full season in the senior squad, and is proof of just how highly he is valued at St. Mary's.

Nevertheless, the pulling power of the Premier League will be far too much for Southampton to fight against and they will do well to keep hold of Dibling past this summer.