Southampton have recruited well over the years, with plenty going on to sell for big money and reach the top of the game.
This period of fine acquisitions unsurprisingly has brought about many cult heroes at the St Mary’s Stadium.
Not only will Saints supporters look back upon these players fondly, but the way in which they have often take the Premier League by storm leads supporters of rival clubs to also reminisce.
One player which certainly stimulates this feeling within both camps is Italian marksman Graziano Pelle, who excelled during his short two-year spell on the south coast.
Standing at a hulking 6 -foot-3, the now 37-year-old was blessed with fine technical ability and could score goals with both feet and his head.
It made the fact that he was brought in for just £9m in 2014 even more ludicrous after he had just scored 55 goals in 66 games for Feyenoord.
The Saints currently have just seven goals in their opening seven Premier League fixtures, and if they could add the prime Italian to their side now, they would have all the ingredients for a side capable of challenging the status quo.
In his debut season, he scored 12 goals and assisted twice, helping fire his side to a seventh-place finish and a spot in the Europa League for the coming season.
Whilst they would not get past the qualifying rounds, Pelle scored another 11 in the league but this time offered up seven assists too as they squeezed into sixth place that year.
With each season it was clear he was improving, with the quality of goals becoming higher and higher. He was described as having produced “another magical display" back in October 2014, outlining the frequency with which he was performing at such a standard.
His form also earned him an international call-up, where he would score nine times in just 20 appearances for Italy.
However, when China came calling for the 30-year-old, it became a financial incentive that he simply could not refuse.
Pelle ended his growth at Southampton with a move to Shandong Luneng, but what they wouldn’t give to have a man of his quality back up front for them now.
Since the sale of Danny Ings, they have struggled for guaranteed goals, with Armando Broja offering a stop-gap last season whilst on loan from Chelsea.
Ronald Koeman played a blinder when he brought Pelle in, and Ralph Hasenhuttl would surely love to have him back now in his prime.