SAINTS have announced the signing of Tottenham goalkeeper Tommy Forecast was part of an early settlement for the deal that saw Gareth Bale move to White Hart Lane.
Spurs agreed to pay £5m up front and a further £5m depending on appearances and league position for the Welsh left back last summer.
However, Saints have decided to forfeit some of that second payment for an early cash settlement, as well as the signature of 21-year-old Forecast.
The club agreed a similar deal with Arsenal last season over the final payments of the Theo Walcott transfer.
PLC chairman Rupert Lowe said: "Over the past two years the club finances have deteriorated markedly as a result of the excess of expenditure over income.
"To some extent this has been mitigated by the sale of young players including Gareth Bale, Kenwyne Jones and Chris Baird - not to mention cashing in the further payments for Theo Walcott.
"I am always reluctant to forego any future income but given our current situation, we must do all we can to go into the new season as robustly as possible.
"I believe in long-term planning through developing good young players. Despite the sacrifice of this valuable income stream which may or may not become due in the future, this deal ticks both boxes."
