Wood exit leaves Swans to wonder

It has looked inevitable for a while that Nathan Wood would be leaving Swansea City this summer.

With the centre-back’s move to Southampton now confirmed, there may be some at Swansea wondering whether, with hindsight, they should have sold him 11 months ago.

Russell Martin’s Saints had two offers for Wood rejected last August.

At that stage, Southampton were prepared to pay about £7m rising to £10m for the England Under-21 international.

While the transfer fee is officially undisclosed, BBC Sport Wales understands Southampton have eventually got their man for just £3m, with add-ons taking the deal to a potential £4.5m.

The Swans will have to give a slice of the profit made on Wood to Middlesbrough, as a result of a sell-on clause in the deal which brought him to Wales for about £400,000 in 2022.

His signing was a success for Swansea. Despite some injury issues, Wood managed 72 appearances in his two seasons at Swansea, establishing himself as one of the brightest young defenders in the Championship.

But with Wood’s contract up next summer – and the player apparently making clear he wanted to move on – Swansea were left with little option but to sell for what looks a low price, given the player's potential.