It was an injustice Southampton fans and Manolo Gabbiadini will never forget. The Italian should have left yesterday's EFL Cup final with the match ball and Saints supporters should've had the privilege of watching their side take Manchester United to extra time at a bare minimum. They say goals change games whenever they are scored; so who knows what events would have unfolded if Gabbiadini's opener - which, in fact, was the result of a perfectly timed run onto a low cross that defined Southampton's attacking play throughout the Wembley final - hadn't been chalked off for offside.

The decision will leave Saints fans reeling until they win some silverware and has already found itself thrust into the heart of the video technology debate, unsurprisingly by St. Mary's boss Claude Puel. But rather than simply causing old geriatrics cursing what could have been in taverns on the south coast for the next however many decades, the biggest consequence of Southampton's heroically-fought defeat to Manchester United may well be felt in a matter of months, upon the opening of the summer transfer window.

"I would like, of course, video in the future for these situations. It’s very hard when we see this game to lose. It was cruel.

"We kept the good attitude and spirit to stay in the game after going 2-0 down. We played since the beginning of the season every two or three days. We played to a strong and fantastic level. It’s important now to continue this work, to put away this disappointment and come back in the Premier League with this strength and this quality."

We know Virgil van Dijk will be impossible to keep, tipped by some as a Barcelona-quality centre-back and unquestionably in the thoughts of every side in the Premier League's top six. No Premier League defence has covered itself in glory this season and the Dutchman's speed and technical qualities have put him in vogue; in addition to the four-man setup he's excelled in at Southampton, VvD seems perfect for the Antonio Conte inspired back-three systems taking the top flight by storm.

Yet, any club on the prowl for a goalscorer will have inevitably been drawn to Gabbiadini's performance last night. It wasn't just his proficiency but the intelligence and ingenuity required to find the net. His first (the aforementioned chalk-off) and his last were consequences of perfectly timed runs to the near post, in which the Italian bamboozled his markers twice with clever movement and fleeting footwork. They sandwiched an instinctive finish from a loose corner, flinging his foot whilst on the turn to sneak the ball past David De Gea. A real poacher's goal.

Of course, Gabbiadini has his limitations. He struggled for presence when United began to dominate proceedings and unlike most Premier League strikers, he isn't notably strong, quick or menacing in the air - many are a mix of all three nowadays. But the striker's technical abilities and cuteness in the penalty area were lauded during his time in Serie A and have been prevalent throughout a spell of five goals in just three appearances for Southampton.

The fact they impacted a cup final against a talented Manchester United side managed by Jose Mourinho - a coach renowned for his defensive organisation - underlined Gabbiadini's pedigree and highlighted how he can perform against high-quality opposition on the biggest stage. He's a natural goalscorer and just like VvD, no club in the Premier League is in a position to turn down one of those.

Southampton fans will argue their club is under no pressing obligation to sell, but the more honest amongst them will admit a handsome offer usually convinces them to do so. And we've seen it before with January striker arrivals; Demba Ba left West Ham for Newcastle, Brian McBride signed for Fulham after impressing on loan at Everton, and even Southampton's Shane Long moved to St. Mary's after just half a campaign at Hull City.

The cruel injustice is that Sunday's defeat might be what convinces Gabbiadini to leave in such a scenario. Whilst Southampton can't be faulted for their performance and undoubtedly deserved more from a cup final in which a refereeing decision cost them dearly, actually lifting the trophy would've been a symbol of what players can achieve at St. Mary's; missing out, on the other hand, inevitably highlighted the struggles they'll face in search of silverware - opponents with more experienced managers, more holistic squads and more talented players and of course, the subliminal big-club bias of officials.

He may only be three appearances into his Southampton career, but the most recent may well be what determines Gabbiadini's future lies elsewhere.