Three takeaways from Southampton v Middlesbrough

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MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND – MAY 13: Oriol Romeu of Southampton attempts to tackle Adam Clayton of Middlesbrough during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Southampton at Riverside Stadium on May 13, 2017 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images) /

Oriol Romeu MUST be kept this summer

Forget Virgil van Dijk, Oriol Romeu needs to be the Saints’ number one priority this summer. The Players’ Player of the Season and the Fans’, the Spanish rock produced another stellar performance yesterday. If it wasn’t for Rodriguez’s goal and assist, he would’ve been man of the match.

He attempted a whopping 96 passes, with 85 percent of those finding the desired man. Adam Clayton attempted the most for the home side, with 52.

On the defensive end Romeu made the joint-most amount of tackles of any Southampton player alongside Jeremy Pied, and he also produced two interceptions, two clearances and a single block.

Without van Dijk the defense has definitely been worse but with the Spaniard mopping up in front of them the Saints have performed much better defensively that they perhaps should have.

Romeu isn’t valued as lucratively as the Dutchman but that doesn’t mean that Puel will have an easy job keeping hold of the midfielder this summer. Keeping him at any price must be top priority.