"It's a big stake" - Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit reacts to emerging Southampton FC sale news | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie offers his view on Dragan Solak reportedly willing to sell his stake in Southampton

Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie has given his view on Dragan Solak reportedly being willing to sell his 80% stake in Southampton.

The Saints chairman is the founder and majority owner of Sport Republic, the investment group who hold the majority stake in the club.

They've been active on the South Coast for only three years, after reaching a deal with former owner Gao Jisheng in January 2022.

It seems as though Solak doesn't want to step away entirely, with local news from the Daily Echo stating that the Serbian told his senior members of staff that he intends to stay in charge of the club, so he will not be looking for an outright buyer.

This doesn't come as a surprise, due to Sport Republic reportedly paying £100 million for those shares in an acquisition that was seen as a strategic move to establish a multi-club ownership model, akin to those employed by entities like the City Football Group.

Later on, in August that same year, the firm acquired a 70% stake in Turkish club Göztepe, marking the first instance of foreign investment in Turkish football. This was followed by the acquisition of French club Valenciennes in July 2023.

Lee Hendrie has his say on Southampton owner Dragan Solak

Speaking exclusively to FLW, ex-Aston Villa forward and current Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie discussed his views on Southampton's situation, and why this could be a step in the right direction following relegation back to the Championship.

"I think they’ve done relatively well, in that promotion from being relegated (2023/24) so you do feel they’ll be in a similar sort of situation with parachute payments and whatnot.

"Being relegated again - I look at things and I think they invested relatively well, you always look at the people above who are steering the ship in a football club - and have they got that sort of hunger and desire to even stay up - and I think Southampton did.

"It's a big stake, and I think if it’s the right call and the people who are looking to take that 80% stake, why wouldn’t they go and do that and really get the club back to where it should be and that’s back in the Premier League.

"I certainly think that would be a thing for Southampton to take forward."

Dragan Solak looking for a lot more money to sell Southampton

During a talkSPORT interview in January, Solak spoke at length about his dream to watch Saints become giants under his guidance. "I feel completely at home here and I'm as passionate as ever to make this club successful," he said, taken from The Echo.

Regarding the amount of money Solak would consider, it is said to be a lot more than the £125 million that was initially reported, but the Serb hasn't specified himself.