With just ten days remaining in the transfer window, Southampton’s business is far from complete. Luckily, a host of potential targets remain available and they must take advantage of this.
Despite spending north of £50 million on four players so far this summer, Southampton still need to invest between now and August 9th in order to fully compete for a top-half spot. Whilst they have addressed some of the issues in the squad there’s still plenty that can be improved, most obviously in the final third.
Thankfully for the Southampton board, plenty of possible transfer targets remain available as the club potentially look to add a new striker and winger to their ranks before the start of the new campaign.
Whilst the likes of Andre Schurrle and Alireza Jahanbakhsh have joined Premier League rivals, Filip Kostic, Miguel Almiron and other players like David Neres and Steven Bergwijn all remain available having not left their current sides or signed fresh contracts.
Meanwhile up front the Saints could desperately use a new striker especially if Sam Gallagher moves on – all four of Nicolai Jorgensen, Nils Petersen, Maxi Gomez and Bas Dost are in the same boats.
Therefore Southampton are actually in a really blessed position, but they have to take advantage of this before it’s too late. The Saints have been strongly linked with Rachid Ghezzal but the Algerian doesn’t seem better than any of other possibilities listed above, even if they cost a little bit more.
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If spending is the club’s issue then the likes of Bernard are available, with the Brazilian having enjoyed his most prolific season for Shakhtar before his release at the start of the summer – although it appears that Milan and Chelsea are currently battling it out for the 25-year-old.
Nonetheless, it’s been said that the Saints have to sell before they buy, but with Sofiane Boufal already loaned out and Dusan Tadic having been sold, the club need to invest in a winger with only Mohamed Elyounoussi joining the club thus far.
Meanwhile up front Guido Carrillo’s spot in the squad has seemingly been taken by Sam Gallagher, although the Englishman’s future on the south coast has been subject to plenty of speculation itself.
If Gallagher goes then the Saints will not only be dangerously thin up top, but will totally lack that kind of ‘focal point’ striker they so desperately need. With Charlie Austin’s injury record he’s bound to spend some time on the sidelines, and neither Gabbiadini or Long are natural enough as a #9 to lead the line solo.
To conclude, it’s fair to say that some of the options listed above may be out of Southampton’s reach – Maxi Gomez’s career goal record at 21 means he’s almost destined for a top European side, whilst David Neres as well would certainly command a transfer fee of at least £25 million.
However, the point remains that with ten days left in the English transfer window, a host of possible options for out on the right or up front remain available. Southampton can’t get cocky or complacent after their impressive business at the start of the month however, as without suitable investment between now and August 9th, their window will definitely be considered a failure. All that remains is for the board to put their money where their mouth is.