Saints midfielder James Ward-Prowse has been linked with a season long loan move to Championship newcomers Bournemouth.
The starlet – currently with England’s Under-20 World Cup squad – made 15 Premier League appearances last season, of which four were starts.
Saints have often sent their most promising youngsters down the A31 to Dean Court in order to gain experience.
The likes of Adam Lallana, Matt Mills, David McGoldrick, Simon Gillett and Leon Best have all worn Cherries’ colours in the past  ten years.
But it would be a sign of the times if Saints felt that one of their most promising youngsters – and an English one at that – would be better off being given a year in the second tier.
In the wake of England under-21s’ dismal showing at the recent Euro Championships, much has been made about the continuing amount of foreigners in the top flight these days squeezing out home-grown talent.
Ward-Prowse did well last season to play so many Premier League games – you don’t see many English teenagers playing as often as he did in the top flight in this day and age.
It made sense for Saints to send ex-Eastleigh youngster Aaron Martin out on loan last season, as it was obvious he wasn’t in the first team squad plans.
The same cannot be said of Ward-Prowse, and if Saints are as keen to promote their own home-grown talent as they have made out, it would make more sense to keep him with the first team squad again in 2013/14.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe made his first summer signing yesterday with the arrival of ex-Norwich centre half Elliott Ward.