By Kieran Maguire

10th Jan, 2021 | 1:31pm

'Huge' - Exclusive: Finance guru drops £40m Southampton claim

Southampton are in the running for a Champions League spot and that could mean a £40million increase on their £150m turnover.

That is according to finance expert, author of The Price of Football and new Football Insider columnist Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to correspondent Adam Williams with the Saints outside the top-four only on goal difference.

Southampton have spent modestly on transfers this campaign, with Ibrahima Diallo, Kyle Walker-Peters and Mohammed Salisu arriving in the summer for a combined total of £36m.

Data released over the summer showed that the Saints’ net spend over the previous five seasons had totalled just £22.32m, lower than any other team currently in the Premier League.

And their shrewd financial management has paid dividends on the pitch, with Southampton flirting with what would be a first-ever Champions League finish, an achievement which would see their revenue balloon, according to Maguire.

“Champions League qualification has a huge impact because it’s worth about £40million a season,” he told Football Insider. 

“So if you take a club such as Southampton, in 2019 their revenue was £150m. If you add Champions League money to that and you’re increasing your income effectively by a quarter.

“From Hasenhutl’s point of view, it’s going to be good news for the transfer market and it will also allow them to renegotiate contracts with their best players, the likes of Warde-Prowse and Ings who might be attracting other clubs. They can afford to extend their contracts and give them a pay rise.

“So Champions League football is the biggest difference to any club, apart from being promoted from the Championship. It’s far more important than going from 14th to 8th, for example. Premier League places are worth £2m per place, Champions League we’re talking a minimum of £30m. And then you get £2.7m for every win so it’s a game-changer.”

Prior to Monday’s victory over Liverpool, Southampton hadn’t won in their last four outings.

But over the course of the seasons so far, Hasenhutl’s side have proved themselves more than capable of keeping up with the big boys.

In other news, the deal which would have seen a Southampton striker leave St. Mary’s has collapsed, Football Insider understands.