Saints Marching
Fansided

Southampton: Saints Marching’s perfect January transfer window

By Chris Hughes

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 30: New Liverpool signing Virgil van Dijk attends the Premier League match between Liverpool and Leicester City at Anfield on December 30, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 30: New Liverpool signing Virgil van Dijk attends the Premier League match between Liverpool and Leicester City at Anfield on December 30, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: Joshua King of AFC Bournemouth reacts during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United at Vitality Stadium on December 26, 2017 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: Joshua King of AFC Bournemouth reacts during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United at Vitality Stadium on December 26, 2017 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /

Ed Waugh – inter-Prem flurry

IN

  • Pascal Gross – Permanent from Brighton (£15 million)
  • Joshua King – Permanent from Bournemouth (£20 million)
  • Gary Cahill – Loan or Permanent from Chelsea (£10 million)

The German playmaker Gross only joined Brighton this summer, but is a realistic target for the south coast club. Southampton lack a player that can create opportunities and run the game, Gross having the ability to do this, is much needed therefore.

So far the 26-year-old has scored four goals and assisted five in the Premier League. This is extremely impressive given Brighton have 15 campaign goals, therefore has a goal involvement of every two in three goals. Gross would be suited to playing behind the striker as this is were he us utilised currently. He is always competent on either wing.

Southampton lack any real pace in the squad, the only player really being Nathan Redmond. With the addition of King, it would give Saints an array of options, he could be used to press a back four or counter when played on the right.

The former-United man has currently scored two, and assisted two this season, which is respectable given the quality of the Bournemouth squad.

Though his wage could make this deal somewhat unrealistic, I feel that a player of Cahill’s calibre would be much needed. The former-Bolton defender has great leadership ability that Southampton currently lack.

Our defence has been awful so far this season, having only kept four clean sheets in 20 games, as well as conceding 30 goals. So it’s clear that there is not enough understanding of how to organise a defence from our squad and management.

OUT

  • Virgil van Dijk – Permanent to Liverpool (£75 million)

The Dutch defender should’ve moved to Liverpool this summer to save all the headache of having an unhappy player. Due to this, his attitude has been toxic, distracting for the manager, yet has still been selected over the likes of players who want to play.

The £75 million should all be put to good use, given the how Southampton have performed so far this season. This would be the only player that I would like Saints to sell right now. There are clearly other players like Van Dijk attitude-wise in Dusan Tadic, but no suitor’s to take.