Harrison Reed has hinted that he sees his future at Craven Cottage next season with Fulham likely to activate a right to buy transfer fee clause in his loan deal.

Congratulations to Harrison Reed who has helped Fulham to promotion, but it seems he sees his future with Fulham rather than Southampton if we look at his post match comments after the Cottagers beat Brentford in a tense Play Off Final at Wembley last night, media reports also suggest that Fulham have a clause in their loan deal to buy him for £8 million.

In the post match euphoria Reed had this to say.

"We need to get back - we're celebrating again today," Reed stated early on Wednesday morning.

"Last night was amazing - the feeling after the game I can't describe, it's just something you dream of. Up bright and early this morning, get home, get changed and get back out."

"No, [it hasn't sunk in] just quite yet. I was speaking to my girlfriend just then and she asked 'how are you feeling' and I said I don't think it's sunk in just yet. I think it'll take a little while to do so. But what a feeling - it's an amazing experience.

"The manager spoke before the game of his experiences at Wembley, and about how you need to be calm and execute our game plan and I think we did that down to a man. The free-kick - like you said - it's something we identified and Joe Bryan picked the moment to do it.

"Yeah, exactly that [time off now]. It's been a long season. An amazing season, but now it's time to recover and rest, clear the minds and be ready for the Premier League."

This seems to indicate that Reed wants to be at Fulham next month when they play their first game back in the Premier League.

Some Saints fans have been suggesting that he will be restored to the Saints first team squad after a three year absence out on loan and indeed a five year period that has seen him barely play at all aside from that.

They point to the improvements he has made under the coaching of Scott Parker and that he is ready to challenge for a place at St Mary's.

But it does not seem that Reed wishes to follow this path and quite bluntly why would he want to do so, if Parker has been the influence that some are saying then conversely Ralph Hasenhuttl has not had any at all on him only working briefly together during last summer's pre season before he joined Fulham a year ago this coming weekend.

So I would suggest that as much as anything Reed would want to go to Fulham where he is appreciated more than he would wish to stay at St Mary's.

Having said this if the transfer clause is set at £8 million I would say this would be a good piece of business for Saints, it would bring in a fair chunk of money that could be used in building the squad up in areas that are more desperate than the centre of midfield where we are already well served by a number of players who have kept Reed out of the team for the past 4- 5 years.

Yes he has grown in stature as a player, but I still don't think he would displace either James Ward Prowse or Oriol Romeu from the centre of midfield and with other option in that spot including the emerging Will Smallbone, we may find ourselves if we did keep him, in a situation as we have had with Sofiane Boufal this season, where there was hope he would come good, but ultimately didn't.

So it looks like being a happy ending for both Saints and Harrison Reed, the club will have some much needed money in plus getting a fair chunk of wages off the books whilst Harry himself can get a good long term contract and finally get a regular game in the Premier League.

Perhaps it will be something we regret at a later date, but I feel that overall if the fee is £8 million as claimed in the media it is good all round business for all concerned.

Photo: Action Images

WestSussexSaint added 13:35 - Aug 5 I agree with Nicks view that even if Reed came back to Saints I don’t believe he would start with JWP, Romeu, Smallbone and potential transfers in to compete with. At £8m I would say that is great business for Saints, Fulham and Reed. A transfer which would be good for all. There is a novelty!
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sandywelsh added 13:43 - Aug 5 I think Harrison Reed is worth more than 8million because we got £13 million for Matt Targett. I would have liked to get somewhere near £15 million after all Spurs want £12 million for Kyle Walker-Peters and Reed has much more experience.
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highfield49 added 17:57 - Aug 5 Whether or not anyone now considers Reed to be worth more than £8m isn't relevant, if Fulham have a right to buy clause set at that figure then good luck to them. Only someone like Levy would try to haggle more money out of the deal. At least we'll have a decent chunk of the fee for Salisu available now. If, as seems likely, Harry Reed now stays at Fulham then I wish him well.

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A1079 added 22:12 - Aug 5 I would have loved to have seen Harrison Reed make it at Saints and I actually thought he would, but for his own future and career path it looks likely that is best placed elsewhere such as Fulham. I wish him well and a successful career in football.
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underweststand added 07:22 - Aug 6 I agree totally with Sandy Welsh, and it'll be good for Reed to get regular first team football. He had more apps. with Saints than a lot of the other players from his Academy generation, but never quite made his mark , and as Nick pointed out there would be too much competition if he were merely to return to the Saints bench. Good luck Harrison.
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kernow added 12:59 - Aug 6 In today's market, £8 million for a PL footballer is an absolute steal. Perhaps the clause could have contained a sub clause along the lines of "subject to renegotiation in the event of promotion"? Have Saints been mugged again ?
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underweststand added 06:20 - Aug 8 I think Saints ought to include a " sell-on " clause in every transfer, especially those for developing talents - like Reed. Why oh why didn't we have that in the deal for Gareth Bale?
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