Cash-strapped League One side Southampton were forced to sell one of their brightest talents on Wednesday as newly-promoted Premier League club Wolves bought England Under-21 international Andrew Surman for a reported 1.2million pounds.

The 22-year-old midfielder cum leftback signed a three year contract with the option of an extra year as he became Wolves manager Mick McCarthy’s fourth signing of the close season.

“To come to the Premier League and with a club as big as Wolves is fantastic,” Surman told Wolves’ website.

“We’d had a disappointing season at Southampton. I think we had enough quality in the team to be able to do something but unfortunately it all went sour and we ended up getting relegated, which is never nice to have on your CV.

“I’m ready to go again with Wolves. Even though it looks a young side here it’s also a very experienced side when you consider how many games they have played,” added Surman, who scored 18 goals in 142 appearances for the Saints.

Surman joins record signing Kevin Doyle - bought for 3.5million pounds on Tuesday from Reading - free transfer signing American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and Serbian midfielder Nenad Milijas, with former Republic of Ireland manager uMcCarthy keen to strengthen his squad.

Southampton are in desperate financial straits and in administration and will start with a 10 point penalty when the 1976 FA Cup winners begin the new campaign - but they face going out of business if a buyer is not found soon.

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