TYLER DIBLING left Southampton for Chelsea and was almost refused a return to the South Coast.
The Saints winger, 18, has broken through into Russell Martin's first-team this season and been a bright spark for the struggling Premier League side.
Tyler Dibling is starting to make a name for himself at Southampton
Tyler Dibling is starting to make a name for himself at SouthamptonCredit: Getty
He spent a few months at Chelsea in 2022 but played just twice for their academy
He spent a few months at Chelsea in 2022 but played just twice for their academyCredit: Instagram @Tylerdibling
He has started eight of their 14 matches, scoring in their 1-1 draw with Ipswich back in September.
Dibling also assisted twice in a 5-3 win over Cardiff in the Carabao Cup.
He has spent the last decade of his life as a Southampton academy prospect - but for a few months in 2022.
Dibling, who was suspended for Saints' 5-1 defeat to Chelsea on Wednesday, joined the Blues shortly after going viral for scoring a hat-trick against Newcastle in a Premier League 2 match.
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He was offered around £3,000 a week to stay at St Mary's but Chelsea offered more to snatch him away.
However, the Exeter-born attacker struggled to fit in at the West London club as he suffered a lack of confidence in the more ruthless environment.
And following just TWO appearances for Chelsea's youth side, talks got underway to bring him back to Southampton.
According to The Athletic, some Saints chiefs were concerned about the "message it would send to other academy players who leave Southampton and then decide they prefer their old surroundings" if they were to take him back.
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But Matt Hale, Southampton's academy director at the time, wanted the best players at the club and could see Dibling was one of them.
So they offered him a contract on much reduced wages from the offer they submitted prior to joining Chelsea - and he signed it.
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And Dave Horseman, an academy coach at the club at the time of Dibling's return, praised the teenager's attitude.
He said: "When I knew he was coming back, I sat all the U21s and U18s down and explained what was happening.
"When he came back from Chelsea, he went to the U18s. He had to earn the right to come back.
"He never moaned, at least not to us, and looking back, when you put the pieces together, he showed he is a strong character.
"He had to suck it up and go again, and I am sure Tyler felt awkward as anything when he came back."
Dibling penned a new deal in February 2023 to keep him at the club until 2027.
But SunSport has revealed Manchester United and Aston Villa have already sent scouts to watch his last three games.
Clubs in Germany and Italy are also understood to be interested.
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And he will almost certainly leave if Southampton are relegated this season.
Martin's men sit bottom of the Premier League, seven points adrift of safety after winning just one of their opening 14 matches.