SAINTS have splashed out more on new players since returning to the Premier League than they have brought in by selling star names.

The club have been saddled with a reputation as a ‘selling’ one after seeing seven first team squad players depart in the last two summer windows.

During that time, Saints have certainly brought in more money than they have splashed out on new signings.

But in the first two summer windows after reclaiming their Premier League place, in 2012 and 2013, they made a loss in the transfer market of over £60m.

Saints spent heavily in those first two summers, during Nicola Cortese’s time as chairman, in a bid to establish themselves as a Premier League force.

Saints spent heavily in those first two summer, during Nicola Cortese’s time as chairman, in a bid to establish themselves as a Premier League force.

In all, Saints have brought in around £127m by selling players in the four summer windows, starting with 2012.

During that time, the club have splashed out a huge £157m on new blood.

And that is just in transfer fees during those four windows.

On top of that, Ryan Bertrand – initially brought in on loan in the summer of 2014 – had his move made permanent fror £10m last January.

In addition, Saints have also spent several million on loan fees for players such as Steven Caulker and Maarten Stekelenburg this summer and Toby Alderweireld in 2014.

The initial outlay after returning to the top-flight saw the St Mary’s club consolidate a place in the Premier League - but at considerable cost.

The likes of Dani Osvaldo and Gaston Ramirez cost around £27m just in transfer fees, but ultimately have been expensive flops.

Osvaldo had his contract cancelled by mutual consent in the summer after spending a year and a half out on loan to a variety of clubs after assaulting Jose Fonte in training in January 2014.

Ramirez has not played a first team game for Saints for over a year now, and the Echo reported last Saturday that he, too, could be on the verge of having his contract cancelled.

In the summer of 2014, new boss Ronald Koeman and director Les Reed oversaw a transfer window profit of just under £30m – just on monies in and out.

But Bertrand’s £10m fee has to be added to that, plus loan fees for Alderweireld and the players who came in on loan last January, Filip Djuricic and Eljero Elia.

When wages are factored in as well, Saints were almost certainly true to their promise that all cash received from selling star names would be reinvested in the squad.

That has also been the case this season, with Saints having spent marginally less than they received for Morgan Schneiderlin and Nathaniel Clyne – but almost certainly more when loan fees are added to the financial mix.