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Have Southampton been slow this transfer window?

By Chris Hughes

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: (L-R) Ryan Bertrand, Nathan Redmond and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Southampton walk on the pitch prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on April 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: (L-R) Ryan Bertrand, Nathan Redmond and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Southampton walk on the pitch prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on April 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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Southampton have seemingly been slow to act this transfer window, but has their lack of movement actually been bad or is it blown out of proportion?

We’re a week away from the start of August, meaning there’s around five weeks of the summer transfer window left. It’s officially been open for three and a half weeks, although clubs often do their business as early as May nowadays.

Meanwhile Southampton have only made one permanent signing – Jan Bednarek – who is unlikely to have an overwhelming impact on the first team next season. Considering their form at the end of the last campaign this comes as a surprise.

What’s more, clubs like Everton and Bournemouth have both acted quickly, meaning the former could leave the Saints behind while the latter could overtake them.

However some supporters have called for patience with the official window barely half-way done, but how does this year compare?

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2015-16

Ronald Koeman’s final season at the helm of Southampton saw the departure of both Nathaniel Clyne and Morgan Schneiderlin, but also brought about seven summer transfers.

Three of these came within the first week of the window, however the only man who would go on to become a first team regular would be Cedric. The other two were Juanmi and Cuco Martina.

Meanwhile Jordy Clasie was the only other man brought in before this day of the year, with the key signings of Virgil van Dijk and Oriol Romeu both coming in the latter stages of the window.

Harry Lewis was the only other acquisition that summer, and he was signed at a similar time to the now-want-away van Dijk.

SWANSEA, WALES – JANUARY 31: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (L) and Maya Yoshida (R) of Southampton arrive at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Swansea City and Southampton at Liberty Stadium on January 31, 2017 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
SWANSEA, WALES – JANUARY 31: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (L) and Maya Yoshida (R) of Southampton arrive at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Swansea City and Southampton at Liberty Stadium on January 31, 2017 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /

2016-17

Claude Puel’s only summer window in charge of the Saints would see the club make a total of six signings, including a record fee spent on Moroccan playmaker Sofiane Boufal.

Much like the season before, there was some action right at the start of July, with Nathan Redmond agreeing to join the Saints not long after season’s end and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg joining just a couple of weeks into the month.

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However after that £22 or so million of investments Southampton then went quiet until August, when they made the quick-fire double acquisition of both Alex McCarthy and Jeremy Pied.

Excluding the experienced Stuart Taylor the Saints then went a long period once again without a signing, with Boufal joining on the 29th of the month after weeks of speculation.

Therefore based on last season Southampton shouldn’t worry all too much, with their bigger signings all coming within those final four weeks or so.

However in both of their last two windows they have made more transfers by this point in time, and what’s more, they’ve been first-team regulars.

But then again big players had already departed the south coast outfit by this time of the window, meaning the club haven’t needed as much urgency with their investment. All in all though it’s wise to suggest that the fans will want some kind of movement from Les Reed and co. soon though, or they could fall behind.